Chugga Chugga Two Two!

Zach turned two back in April and we threw a little train themed birthday party for him. I have several pictures that I wanted to share of the day. Before our kids can actually choose what they want to do to celebrate their own birthdays, I have had some fun coming up with party ideas for them ;) Now before you think that I just do whatever I want, I do put some thought into what they like and what they would enjoy for their party. I like to look at the past year and think, "What has he been most into this year?" This year, it was trains! He got a train table for Christmas and has loved playing with it. He likes going to different stores and playing at their train tables, going to the 'train park' downtown and watching trains. 

So we threw a CHUGGA CHUGGA TWO TWO train themed party!

I didn't exactly go all out like I did last year. The party was only dessert and had more interactive things for the guests to do. I also thought of things that I could make myself for the decorations. The backdrop was the bunting that said, Chugga Chugga Two Two.

I made a train track out of black and brown paper to serve as the table runner. The main focal point of the table was the train cake and the cute picture of Zach on the train tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

 The cake was a lot of fun to make. I was debating on several train cakes. Should it be a cake shaped like the number 2? Should it be an actual 3D train cake with little cars full of goodies. Ultimately I decided on this fun one. I had made a huge sandcastle cake for Sunday school the week before and I wanted a little simpler cake. I think it turned out really cute! I used two boxed cake mixes to make two 13x9 cakes. I then died the buttercream green and frosted the whole cake. I used the train that is on the cake to write the actual number two on the cake. The served as my outline to pipe the number 2 with black frosting. I then used kit kat bars to make the tracks into the number 2. I finished the cake with a red and blue border to match the colors of the party, some chocolate rocks and the candles. I would have added maybe a little blue lake or a tree but I didn't have any room left on the cake.

 

 

 

  

We had a fun day celebrating with family! James attended his first birthday party and had fun hanging out in his new big brother's chair while he was napping before the party :)

 

 zach & daddy 

 

 pa & james

 

 cousins ready to party!

During the party one of the 'stations' (can you tell that I used to be an elementary school teacher?) was frosting sugar cookies in the shape of a train. Those were cutely displayed on the table. The blue bags with divine twine served as the goodie bags for the guests to take their frosted cookies home in.

 

 

 cookie decorators 

 

 

 

 a little too many ;)

 

 enjoying his creation. 

 

 Another station was a coloring station with train coloring pages.

 

 

There was also sidewalk chalk on the back patio.

 

When it was time to sing Happy Birthday, the birthday boy was actually the one to start the song himself! On his actual birthday, his cousin Emma sent him a video message of her singing happy birthday to him. He would watch that video over and over again. He actually learned the Happy Birthday song from that video! There are also several other birthdays in our family around his, so he learned that when there is a cake nearby, people usually sing happy birthday. So when he saw his cake, he knew to start the song!

 

The birthday boy really enjoyed his cake and Joe-Joe ice cream (his one request!) 

 

 

 

 

Opening presents!

 

 

 

 

 

 zoo membership!

 

 

paw patrol!

We are so thankful for the family that came to celebrate our little boy's second birthday! His life is so full and rich because of all the people that love him! 

Happy Birthday Zach! We love you!

P.S.- Can you please be into construction equipment and building this upcoming year because I really want to throw a construction/ dirt themed birthday party ;)

James: Six Months!

I am still in denial/ shock that my little baby is half a year old! The past six months have literally flown by and now he is getting into big boy stages and moving out of the little baby stage. It was a big month of James with lots of big milestones: first tooth and first foods, learning how to sit up unassisted and starting to army crawl! Slow down, little boy, you are growing up too fast!

I love the 6 month age! His little personality is really starting to come out. James is a really laid back, mellow boy. He just goes with the flow and does such a great job adjusting to all the craziness around him. He has the sweetest little smile, giggle and belly laugh. I am so thankful for this boy every single day. 

Eat
James officially started solids this past month (well the last week of the month!) I was holding off for him to be close to six months and so we started him about a week before he turned six months. He has been wanting food for some time. He is constantly trying to grab my food or other peoples' food and gets mad when he can't get it. He is starting off on vegetables and is doing a combination of purees (which I have surprisingly made myself so far) and soft little bits of food/ BLW. His first food was peas. His big brother hated peas when he first tried them and James actually seemed to enjoy them. He still hasn't quite grasped the whole food concept yet and probably spits more stuff out than what actually gets swallowed, but he's getting the hang of it.

He is trying out his solids at dinner time but is still getting all of his actual calories through nursing. He nurses 4 times a day (4 hours a part) and most of the time 1 time at night.

New foods this month: peas, green beans, carrots

Sleep
James' sleep at the beginning of the month was pretty rough. He was waking up 2 times a night, with only going 4-5 hours stretches. It all made sense though when his first tooth finally appeared. After that tooth cut through he's been sleeping better. He actually slept through the night one night! But on average, he will wake up once (usually between 4:00-5:00am). He goes to bed around 7:00 and sleeps until 7:00.

James takes two naps a day (sometimes three if we are out and about and falls asleep in the car). His first nap is around 9:00 and he will sleep on average 1 1/2 hours. His second nap is aligned with his big brother's nap. (Insert mommy happy dance here!) They usually go down at 1:00. James usually sleeps 1- 1 1/2 hours for his second nap. I am still trying to figure out this second nap. Honestly I think he should go down around 2:00, that way he can sleep later and not have a big awake time before going to bed. However, he is usually tired and fussy around 1:00 and I need them to go down at the same time. Zach is a very light sleeper and I am afraid that if I put James to sleep in the middle of Zach's nap, he will wake Zach up after only one hour (which would be very bad news for all involved!) I have thought about maybe trying to push Zach's nap back but he wakes up so early in the morning that it is hard for him to make it any later. Ohhh the stressors of a stay at home mom ;)

Play
James has become quite the active little boy. He is a really easy going, mellow baby but really enjoys his playtime and moving about the house as well. This little boy is quite the roller, pivot-er and has starting a little army crawl. I will look down at him playing with one toy, turn my back for a second, just to see him completely across the room, in a different direction, almost under the table, train table or the couch. He has started a little army crawl and appears to also get up on his knees a bit. He might take off crawling soon. As much as I am proud of him, I'm actually okay if he wants to stay put for a little while longer. Having two mobile kids on my hands is going to put things in a whole new category for me ;) James can sit up independently for a few seconds (is getting better everyday) and can tripod with his hands in front of him. I think he would actually be sitting independently longer, but he is just quite the mover that he can't sit still ;)

At times I think that James is a really social baby, but he is also really independent as well. He likes to be included: seeing me, seeing Zach, but he is quite content with playing with his own toys and rolling across the floor for a long period of time. There have been times when Zach has been napping and I am hanging out with James and he has been perfectly content entertaining himself for a good 45 minutes. Now that is something his big brother has never achieved, even to this day!

One of his favorite toys this month has been his jumperoo. He also likes to play with all of his rattles and other toys, as well as his big brother's toys. I find that I am more relaxed with James in terms of letting him explore his surroundings, within reason. He likes to sit in his bumbo and play with the kitchen aid mixer lid (of all things) and chew on rubber spatulas while we are in the kitchen. Bath time with his brother is a favorite. He also enjoys playing with water either at Nana and Pa's house or at the pool. He likes to be outside and take walks. He really studies all of his surroundings and is soaking in this big world. 

James is easy to crack a smile. He will get the biggest grin of his face, but still remain silent. When he starts his laugh it is a one syllable ha and then will enter his belly laugh. His daddy is one of a few people who he laughs at immediately- all he has to do is walk in the room! It sounds like he can say the word, "hi". He will say it when someone says hi to him or if you walk in to the room.


Likes: Chewing on everything, jumperoo, rolling all over the place, water, kitchen aid mixer lid, mirrors, reaching at things above himself. 

Dislikes: Being tired, being by himself/out of view of others, getting frustrated when I don't let him touch the book that I am reading to him,

Size
Weight: 19 lbs. 4 oz. [78th percentile]
Height: 27.5 inches [82nd percentile]
Diapers: Size 3
Clothing: Bottoms: 6-12 month/ 9 month, Tops: 6-12 month/ 9 month, Pajamas: 9 month
Nicknames: Jamesy, Jamesy Boy, Little Love Bug, Orange Slice, Ginger Snap, Shamrock Shake (ask his dad), Bames (Zach). I also refer to him as a little koala or sloth because of the way he clings on to people. 

Milestones:
First tooth! Bottom left incisor [6.22.15]
First food- peas [6.25.15]
Rolling across floor/ 360 degrees, pivoting
Sitting independently for a few seconds/ tripod
Starting to army crawl
Says a word that sounds like 'hi' pretty consistently. 

Note from Mom:
Well, my sweet James, just like that you are half a year old. Your life is such a blessing and I am thankful that I am the one that you call mom. There are so many things that I love about you James. One of my favorite things about you is the way that you wake up a happy baby. In the morning, I am usually awoken to you babbling away in your crib. When I walk in the room, your little head quickly turns in my direction and you crack the biggest smile when you see me. You then start kicking your legs and flapping your arms in excitement. I LOVE it! I love how you are so easy going and just take things as they come. You love to be included and explore the world around you, but you also can be calm and relaxed when I have to go tend to your very active brother. You are growing up so fast. Pretty soon you are going to be crawling and you and your brother are really going to give me a run for my money with all the chasing after you that I will have to do. You are such a gift, James, and I love you so!

Six Month Pictures:

  James turned 6 months the day before the 4th of July, hence the patriotic photo shoot!