Two!

Colin Henry turned two today! I'm not going to say the expected thing, which is: "I can't believe how time has flown..." It feels like two years--two long years since Kevin and I embarked on this crazy journey of parenthood. Sometimes, such as this weekend when Colin had a terrible cold and was understandably cranky, it can feel like a lifetime.

But it has been a joyful lifetime, between the sniffles and the meltdowns. Rather than throw a big party (or two) like last year, we just made a small family party tonight: Mama made a chocolate cake (from scratch!), Daddy hung the birthday bunting I made last year, and Colin cried and cried and cried. Until he had his first bite of chocolate cake, and then he was happy.

The cake met with Colin's approval ... I guess.

He was disappointed to find the "2" inedible, though.

However, even on days like today, when parenthood is a little less-than-joyful, I am so glad that Colin has come into our lives. At two years old, he is such a little person--and a person that I like and admire. He's energetic and inquisitive. He loves to sing and dance and read. He's gentle (most of the time) and has a smile for everyone. Because of this, he's one of the most well-liked kids at his daycare--both by the staff and by the other kids. And although life isn't a popularity contest, I believe that life will be easier for him for having that quality and that he will be the happier for it.

There are so many more things that I ought to say about Colin at two years old, but we are exhausted. We only just got Colin to bed at 10:00 p.m. tonight after winding him down from his sugar high and putting him to bed in his "big-boy bed." In anticipation of the baby that will arrive in a few short months, we are transitioning Colin out of the crib. It just so happened that we started tonight--on his second birthday.

And it just so happened that tonight, on his second birthday, Colin gave us a little gift: he went to the bathroom in his potty for the very first time. We were so excited--and so was he. Looks like our little boy sure is growing up ...

Daddy helps him to put on his birthday crown.

The inevitable sugar high.

My amazing son.