So, for the past week and a half or so, as we've started talking to Charley about her upcoming birthday, reading her books about birthdays to prepare her (and hope that she halfway gets what's going on), and talking about her party, if you were to ask C "How old are you?" her response was an enthusiastic "I be two!". Then, as the day grew closer, we'd reply, "Yes, you are going to be two, on Sunday. Sunday's your birthday." So soon she added that to her repertoire, and it became "I be two... on Sunday!"
Finally, Sunday arrived! So, I dressed her in her birthday outfit, snapped some pics, and we went outside for a bit, waiting for Dada to wake up so the festivities could begin!
Soon he did, and the present opening commenced!
Let me preface this whole thing with - I always said MY baby would not be spoiled. MY baby wouldn't have toys out the wazoo, with so many battery-operated gadgets and gizmos and flashing lights and talking babies that she wouldn't appreciate any of it. Ha! If only. You see - when you have a kid, you aren't the only one who buys for them! There are Grandmas and Grandpas, Nanas and Pops, aunts and uncles and best friends and adoptive family and... well, you get the gist. And THEY all want to spoil your kid. And before you know it... things have gotten out of hand, and your kid has toys out the wazoo, with so many battery-operated gadgets and gizmos and flashing lights and talking babies that...
Well, okay, maybe she appreciates SOME of it. Especially when it's shiny and new and right out of the box. But then, there's another shiny, new, right out of the box toy to replace IT, and another to replace THAT one, and, well, you get the point. So, to make it SEEM like she always had new things, I divided most of her toys up into 3 batches, and I had hiding places. I'd pull out batch 1 while sneakily hiding away batch 2 and 3, and then every week or so I'd pull out another batch and squirrel away the one she'd been playing with. Rotating them in and out like this seemed to keep things interesting. But then, for grins, about a week before her birthday I just pulled out everything she owned and scattered it around the house. I figured, in a week she'd be getting tons of NEW stuff, so I'd let her exhaust all her toys till then.
My mom has also kept about 3/4 of every toy, baby doll, my little pony, etc. that I had when I was little, and is now gifting it all back to Charley - something that made me roll my eyes... until actually having a child and receiving it! Not only is it cool to see Charley playing with stuff I once loved, but Rod and I don't even really buy Charley gifts! Between new gifts from people and hand-me-downs from mom (and a couple of things Rod once owned, like some cool wooden blocks), she ends up with TONS O' STUFF so we don't even really bother! There are a handful of things that I'd really like for her to have/she'd really like (kids' binoculars, mini-trampoline, wooden step stool, etc.) so we'll probably either give those out to people looking for Christmas ideas, or break down and buy them for her. I mean, we are her parents. I guess we should be buying her gifts. ;)
Well, the big day has arrived, so while Dada (or "Daddy", as she's now been experimenting with - giggling as she says it, like it's some big game) entertained in the living room, I hauled out (and it WAS a haul) all of her wrapped gifts, and placed them before her. Gift opening, commence!
 |
| "Special" birthday plate |
 |
| Pretending to eat off of it |
 |
| From Michael and "Telsey" |
 |
| A "porcupine"! Really, a hedgehog, but C saw 2 porcupines the other night and LOVED them, so she could relate! |
 |
| Kissing the sock puppet |
 |
| I had to take a pic, to make sure I could reassemble! |
 |
| A purse from Pat and Sarah |
 |
| Mmm, chapstick! |
 |
| A phone and keys! |
 |
| She loved this little wooden "paper bear" set |
 |
| Dressing her owl! |
 |
| A way cool puzzle from Sierra and Angela, her play group friends! |
So, just to give perspective... we started opening gifts around ten. After each gift, she has to play with it for 15-30 minutes before moving to the next. So, quite a bit of time has elapsed. Then she informs us she needs to eat... on her "special" plate!
 |
| Charley, where's your special plate? |
Okay, back to gift opening!
 |
| This was C's FAVE toy as a baby. Around age 15 mos. or so she'd lost interest, so I was going to tuck it away. Rod said to give it to her when she was a bit bigger and could operate the music/lights herself. So - I wrapped it up and gave it back to her - new toy, round two! I have almost this exact same pic in her baby book, when she was weeks old. |
 |
| Cool new bathtub toy! |
 |
| Awwww.... |
 |
| Pausing to play with the wooden bears again |
 |
| A great sock bunny Nana made! |
 |
| Mammaw sent me this card |
Okay - now hours have passed again, and she announces she's hungry, so we take a break for supper. Then, since I didn't take any cake photos at her party the day before (instead I video'd the process), I cut her another piece of cake, relit 2 candles, and we sang Happy Birthday to her again - on her birthday.
Gift opening, round 3! This was MY Cabbage Patch doll. Nana took it and dressed it up a little - new outfit, new blanket, new hat, and...
... a matching outfit for Charley!
Three more new puzzles, and a new block set!
 |
| "Mone, Dada!" |
Pat and Sarah also got her this cool counting set!
All in all, it was a great day! After opening this last gift, it was time for bath and bed! Whew!
All in all, it was a great day! After opening this last gift, it was time for bath and bed! Whew!
