Happy Birthday, W! (updated)

The morning birthday table...

I had orignally decided to purchase another birthday ring ornament from Nova Naturals (love it!), but shipping is just so expensive. (Don't you just love it when shipping costs way more than your purchased item?)

Instead, I made an ornament out of W's most cherished playthings....rocks! It is a true testament to what he seems to enjoy so much right now:)
Daddy and I cut and painted the #2 from scrap wood...
I needlefelted the tiny blue "baby" last year...complete with a little red nose:)

...The birthday story we will read tonight:)
Looking back on the past two years is so powerful. So much has changed; we have changed so much.
 I watch this little boy run about; learning more and more words and sentences every day...and still, I see him so new and tiny, his little nose wiggling like a bunny as we both learn to breastfeed.

It will be a lovely day, despite the rain in the forecast. I'll update this post with photos throughout the day as I get a chance to:)

..Here's the birthday table after W gets his little hands on it!!

he was excited!

Chalk drawing in our kitchen

I've got a lot of preparing to do, so W is staying busy with beans...

Add "clean up the kitchen" to the list:)

Well, our day drew to a close so quickly--I can't believe everything is all over!

What a beautiful day.

I was in bed by 9:)

..Music by my awesome cousin from California:)

No rain all day...and a gorgeous evening sky

..A growing amount of curls..

The cupcake tier Jay and I have been working on...

Toadstool cupcakes created by W's "Granny Smith"

I even got to sing a few of my favorite songs by CSNY and Jewel:)

There will be many more photos to share after we get edited copies back from our photographer.

W received many thoughtful gifts and we shared the day with so many of our dearest friends.

In the end, this will be our last big birthday celebration.

I've decided that as W grows, I'd like the gatherings to be more intimate and contemplative...

There were so many people who I didn't get a good chance to talk with yesterday, and I feel so badly about it.

The outporuing of gifts is so generous, but I don't want W to come to expect so many presents on his birthday.

Many of the gifts will go to "rest" in the attic for a later and more age appropriate time.

Some will be donated to a nurse-family partnership our church assists with.

The "shrapnel" left after a big birthday party can be stressful, and I'm mostly talking of the influx of gifts and "stuff".

Of course, this doesn't mean that I am unappreciative of the thought put into gifts!

Yet, I unapologetically remain steadfast in the amount and types of playthings we keep in the house.

How do you deal with birthdays?

A tough question!