sarah exley photography

There’s something odd that happens when you become a parent: Everything becomes pure denial. About your age, about how much time you have to do the 30 projects you pinned on Pinterest, and of course, about your babies’ birthdays. It never fails – every single year I say, “No WAY has it been another year!” And this year, I think I said it about 150 times.

This year, as Gavin’s birthday quickly approached and Ryan was already telling people he was 2, I constantly corrected him. “He is NOT 2 yet!” I remember being a bit like this with Avery’s birthdays too, but with Gavin I get even more serious about it. Because, well, he’s our last baby. So every little moment of him NOT being 2 yet needed to be fully appreciated and fully soaked up.

It hasn’t been easy though. My little man is all Kelly Clarkson independent. Seriously. Anything physical, he is all over it. Rock walls? Check. Opening and closing doors? Check. Destroying property? I will refrain from calling out the birthday boy, but if you have a 2-year-old boy… you know the answer. He’s also not shy about letting you know what he wants. The past two nights when I asked what he wants for dinner? “Pa chart. WANT IT.” (Pop Tart. I want it.) Say wha? And changing his diaper? “Noooooo! Don’t want it!” LOL.

But there are still little glimpses left of my snuggly baby. Things that I never want to forget…

Like when he hugs, he hugs with his arms AND his legs and says, “Aww, hi mama!”

Or when it’s bedtime and we put on Blue’s Clues (his fave, along with Chuggington) and he sits down with his blankie, his puppy and his na na, and then pats his hand on the spot next to him for me to come sit down. And then snuggles against my chest.

Or when we’re riding in the car and he, out of nowhere, says, “I happy.” Sigh… I love this kid. Even though when he talks, he sounds an awful lot like Borat.And when he laughs… Oh my. I dare you to keep a straight face when you hear him. He has the deepest, rolling laugh I’ve ever heard. And it’s so hilarious coming out of a 2-year-old.

His obsessions at 2 years old? Puppies, babies, choo choos, tubbies (baths), Mo Mo (Elmo), boons (balloons), balls/basketball/soccer/golf/football, yogurt, cheese, and crackers (and ALWAYS requesting to eat them out of a bowl – with a ‘poon). Hates? Brushing his teeth and changing his diaper. ;)

I still can’t believe it’s been a year since this, and 2 years since his crazy entry into the world (they took him three weeks early due to my pre-eclampsia and I was stuck in the hospital for 8 days), but I almost don’t remember any of that. I just remember him being the most relaxed and happy little baby who made the funniest little animal sounds that got him the nickname “Little Critter.” His nickname now? Bubba. My, how things change in two short years.

Happy birthday, little man! We love you so much. But PLEASE, stop growing up!