Simple Pleasure, Priceless Treasure: Happy Birthday Jadon!

This past Saturday we celebrated my son's 2nd birthday. It didn't feel like another year had passed, yet here we were at the end of March looking toward April 2nd.

I remember holding Jadon in my arms when he was first born, smiling and thinking, “So this is who you are.” The little unknown life inside of me had finally arrived. It wasn’t long after that moment that we were facing some of those initial learning moments when you just want to have your baby understand that we’re new at this and don’t know what we’re doing yet. I said to Andy, “He’s ours, but we’re still getting to know him.” Well, so far we’ve survived the newborn stage, infancy, and have begun toddlerhood. There have been some downs, but mostly ups, and no emergency room visits so far. So what have I learned about my amazing little boy? Here are just a few that things that come to mind (in no particular order):

Not only does he enjoy playing in dirt, but he’s eaten it on a couple of occasions.
He only "helps" with the laundry so that he can play in the emptied basket... and so he can put on some of the more unmentionable items of Mom and Dad's (mostly Mom's).
He’s content to play outside with a shovel, bucket, and a few rocks.
Squash gives him gas.
He enjoys waking people up with pig piles and wet willies.
Teething is not only painful; it’s traumatic… for him and everyone around him.
Why walk when you can crawl really fast?
Why walk when you can run?
Being friendly is something he’s passionate about – so much that he has to say hi to everyone he meets… and continues to say hi until they respond to him.
Cuddling is reserved for times of sickness and extreme overtiredness only.
Any activity that involves a ball is automatically fun.
Daddy, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers are pretty much the coolest people he knows.
Dogs come second to Daddy, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers.
Anything that goes “honk, honk” or “vroom, vroom” is also really cool.
Just because he likes it today doesn’t mean he’s going to like it tomorrow.
Popping bubble gum is hilarious.
Saying “cheese” requires closing his eyes as tight as possible and showing his teeth.
He loves surprising Mom and Dad with new information he’s learned without our knowing (such as counting one to ten when we only thought he knew how to count to three!).
He remembers everything!
He befriends random individuals, such as the bread lady in the grocery store who he always has to have a conversation with.
Showing off his muscles requires holding his breath and tensing up his entire body to the point that he shakes.
He will eat when he’s good and ready.
He loves people, especially his family and (although he’s not a super cuddly kid) he doesn’t shy away from giving hugs and kisses to people he cares about.

I love this little boy so much and can’t believe he’s 2 already! Maybe, just maybe the next 2 years will slow down a little more… but I doubt it.

I’ll end with a few pictures from Jadon’s truck birthday party last week. Unfortunately Jadon was going through some teething and was not his happiest, but he pulled it together pretty well and the rest of us had a blast, too!