Reality Check

In 10 days my baby will be 2!

Despite the stigma of this age, I'm really excited for him to be 2.  In the past month, he has just exploded with talking!  He's literally a sponge.  I say a phrase once, not even realizing he's listening, and the next day he's walking around saying it.  Like, "Zip it!" or "Oh my goodness!".  It's so stinking cute.

His birthday is on a Monday this year, thanks to Leap Year.  I've asked my mom to use one of her vacation days to come over so I have an extra set of hands in the hopes that we can venture out somewhere with both kids.  I'm thinking the zoo, Plymouth Orchards, or the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum depending on the weather.  I just want to do something fun!  I figure we'll come back home and have a nice dinner and some cupcakes or ice cream cake and let him open the gifts that we got for him.

His birthday party isn't until October 14th (in the hopes it would buy me more time with the new baby before hosting 30+ people at our house).  And I think I have everything ready for the most part.

Assuming the weather will hold out, we'll have the following:

• Bounce house - CHECK!  
• Playstructure - CHECK!
• Arts and crafts table with stickers, construction paper, crayons, and coloring pages all in the theme of transportation - CHECK!
• Box cars and a school bus - CHECK!  (We took moving boxes and a refrigerator box, painted them, put black plates on for wheels, and the kids can play in them)
• An assortment of Sean's cars, trucks, trains, airplanes, and any other thing that goes for the kids to play with - CHECK!

I made Sean's 2 year slideshow with just about a half hour worth of pictures cued up to music that's sure to bring out a few tears.  I figured I can play that while Sean opens his gifts.

I planned out the meal:

• Jimmy John's Party tray of subs
• Pasta salad
• Mixed greens salad with a variety of dressings
• Macaroni salad
• Roll-up sandwiches or crescent rolls stuffed with chicken and broccoli for the kids
• Chips and pretzels
• Fruit ka-bobs with dip
• Veggie tray with dip
• Pickles

We'll get a cake from Menino's Bakery like last year.  With a number two and some transportation details on it of course!

Once I have the set number of kids attending, I'm going to order some train whistles like these as favors for the kids.

And with that, I think we're set.  I just can't believe it's right around the corner!  I'm so excited for Sean and his big day and big party!  He's growing up too fast....