And then he was TWO!!!

We had such a fun day yesterday!  It was fun to celebrate his birthday on the same day that we had his party.  Since we're renting a townhouse and there's not much space here, we decided to have his party at Holli's Sweet Tooth and it was perfect!  All week whenever we talked about his party he's say "Carter, Cooper comin?"  It really is sweet how he's gotten to love his friends here and was excited for them to celebrate his big day with him.  Not that he wasn't excited about the food.  He kept saying he wanted to eat cupcakes, cake and ice cream.  And he succeeded. 

We started off the day singing and eating a big fat cinnamon roll donut.  Nothing but sugar for the birthday boy!

Because the party was at lunch time, we had some food for the kiddos.  I made candy-shop themed food like Lollipops:

 and gumballs.  They also had Starbursts (star shaped PB & J), Caramels (cheese cubes), and Ice Cream cones filled with goldfish.

 I think the cake turned out quite cute considering when I went to pick it up (30 minutes before the party) they told me they didn't have our order.  Although it doesn't look like the original that I ordered I think it turned out great for a rush order!!!

And, in case cake and ice cream weren't enough, I added some cupcakes to the mix.

Holli's provided the candy bag favors for the kids and I had some "thanks for making my party so SWEET" tags made for them.

 Kids table

 Having a little pre-party snack:

 He absolutely loved it when everyone sang Happy Birthday to him and was so proud that he was able to blow out the candles himself!

 What a sugar high looks like:

 One happy birthday boy

 After the party, and a much needed nap, we set out to open his presents!

Mimi and Grumps were there to help.

 His favorite toy?  A Cars racing track complete with "a-queen" (Lightening McQueen) and another car that I'll have to learn who it is.  Next up on the favorite list is his new four wheeler!

 "Get you!"

 Learning to ride his new tricycle.

 At the end of the day, it's much easier to just get pushed by Gram!

Last night I asked him what his favorite part of the day was and he said "my birthday party!"  Melts my heart that he had so much fun on his special day!

"Boo-bee" Farm

Well, it's not quite what it sounds like but this morning, while everyone else was retreating to their air conditioners, we set out to the blueberry farm for some pickin'!  I had been dead set on picking blueberries this summer-partly because I love blueberries and blueberry baked goodies and partly because I knew Banks would have a blast.  And he did.  He picked, he ran, picked and ran.  I highly recommend taking your toddler, sunscreen-coated of course, for a morning of fun!  We picked a gallon for only nine dollars and the fun we had picking was worth every penny.

 You have to hold your tongue juuuuust right!

 Serious about picking those blueberries!

 Banks loves fresh "boo-bees" and especially loves "boo-bee" muffins.  Tonight I made a fabulously dense blueberry pound cake (thanks to Mary Beth for the recipe).  I had a slice fresh out of the oven and it was melt-in-your-mouth good.  It's a good thing since I had already made the batter, went to get my bundt pan only to realize that it was packed up somewhere and my hard-headed self went through ten boxes before I found it.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake

2 sticks butter (!!)

1 stick margarine (!!!)

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

3 cups sugar

6 eggs

3 cups flour

1 Tbsp vanilla

1 Tbsp almond extract

1 cup fresh blueberries (I used more)

Cream butter, margarine, and cream cheese.  Gradually add sugar.  Add eggs one by one alternating with flour.  Add flavoring.  Fold in blueberries and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

The Fourth!

We had a great Fourth; our first in Oxford.  We loved all the small town festivities!  I'd say this Fourth was pretty run of the mill.  There were parades, friends, llamas, turtle races, fireworks.  We sweat.  We stayed up way past our bedtimes.  Banks ate more junk than any child ever should.  We met up with some friends in Batesville and ate every type of pork you can imagine in one sitting.  There were stomach aches, plenty of desserts, balloons.  Banks played in the sprinkler, played in the Grove and on the Square.  He ran away from me more times that I can count and at least three times Granny's would chase after him sure that he was unattended.  He might as well been unattended.  We sweat some more. 

Fear not, dear blog reader(s), I had my camera and the weekend was well documented (well, all was documented but the petting zoo, as I needed to protect the poor animals from Banks' choke-hold lest they call PETA on me).

Despite the fact that I look like a drowned rat, I thought I'd put a picture of the three of us on here.

Someone remind me of the rules...it is or isn't safe to let your toddler play with firey items?

Chillin in the Grove

Waving to the folks in the parade

I need...

Banks' most recent thing is to say "I need..." for everything he wants.

"I need walk, momma."

"I need truck white he-ah, momma."

 "I need twac-tor tee-bee, momma."

"I need weed dis book, momma."

He likes to add in the Momma part every time in case I forget that he's talking to me.  Today, after he slept for precisely one hour and fifteen minutes and then cried for the next 45, I decided that we needed to make some cookies.

Puffy-eyed from all the crying but ready for some cookies!

Even Daddy needed to get in on the action.  Aren't you proud of me for putting my Type A personality aside and letting him dump the flour???

After two mini Snickers and an inability to understand the need for waiting for the cookies to bake we resorted to a banana-tizer.

A little stirring action

Even an expert baker gets a little bored in the kitchen and needs some "momo-cycle" action.  Looking sick from all the Snickers he ate.

Salmonella, shalmonella.  Licking the spoon.  My mom is cringing right now.

I'd say he enjoyed the finished product!

And if you're feeling baker-ish, here's the recipe:

Candy Bar-Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

36 mini-Snickers

Beat first four ingredients at medium speed with mixer until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until blended.  Stir together flour and next two ingredients in a small bowl. 
Add to butter mixture beating until blended.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350.  Shape 2 Tbsp dough around each Snickers using lightly floured hands and roll into balls.  Place 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 13-14 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool for 5 minutes or, if you're like me, burn your mouth on them as soon as they come out of the oven because you just can't stand it any longer.

Oh Lawdy...

Being a parent is tough!  There are some days, like today, where it's all I can do to keep from ringing Banks' neck.  He's not happy with any of his toys, is whiny, and the only word he knows is "no."  Tonight, we were at dinner with friends and it was all I could do to keep him from a complete melt-down.  I even gave him my iPhone to do whatever he wanted to do with it and even that led to tears when he wanted "uh-nudder one"-meaning another game, picture, or whatever in the world he wanted to look at that would appease him.  I couldn't get him to bed fast enough.  There has been only one other incident where I considered leaving him in public so that I could dig a hole and poke my head down in it.  I am seriously dreading the two's if it is anything like the little taste I've been getting of it lately.  We might not leave the house for that year and I am serious.  We've become pro's at time out.  He's been to time out at every friend's house and most recently went to time out in the Grove.  He even sent himself to time out today for hitting me.  It may be necessary to graduate from time out soon.  I need one of those little frowny face wooden spoons that I can pull out of my purse, say in instances like at the restaurant tonight, that will put the fear of God in him with its very presence.

 Then, there are other days when all I do is laugh because he keeps me on my toes and he is a funny little boy!  I overheard him, pretending to be on the phone, say "Hey baby.  What's up?  Not much.  Bye-bye." and about fell out of my seat.  Hey, baby????  A few days ago we were playing with the sidewalk chalk and he put his little chalky finger on my sunglasses.  It left a little white smudge and he told me it was "bird poo-poo."  His little mind is so inquisitive and he talks ALL. THE. TIME.  He especially likes to announce what he's doing "I runnin!" or "I sit white he-uh."  He is funny about his play these days, too.  I came downstairs today to find some of his vehicles lined up just right.  And the cell phone is there too, just in case he needs to call his baby again.

And, reading an Easter book in the blow-up pool in the middle of the den just because...

And when I see that little face that looks like he got busted doing a big no-no it makes me want to run up the stairs and wake him up and give him a big squeeze and forget all about the teeth grinding he made me do today.  That little stinker...

Bye-bye paci!

I have been dreading and dreading it but we finally gave up the paci last weekend.  And we survived!!!  We have a nest on our front porch and ever since we moved here we've been talking about the baby birds, the mommy and daddy birds and how they feed the babies worms.  So, we decided that the birds needed the paci's since they were babies.  It worked like a charm.  He says, "baby birds, paci's?" everyday but understands that they're gone and he has to go to sleep without them.  You know, I felt bad taking his paci's away from him.  He was REALLY attached to them and I felt like I was depriving him of something he loved!  Not the last time I'll feel that way, I'm sure.

Having a final moment with them:

"Let's see if I can get two in my mouth at the same time"

And, saying goodbye forever!  Leaving them on the porch for the baby birds.

Things I've learned...

We've been in Oxford for a little over a week now and so far we're loving it!  I will say that I am totally out of my comfort zone as far as friends go.  I am having to put myself out there (read: I keep inviting myself places) and it is a really foreign feeling for me!  I guess I'm just wishing I had some ready-made best friends!  Banks and I have been getting out and doing something everyday-going to the park, playing at Square Books Jr, going for a walk on the Square, running errands.  It helps me to feel like I'm a part of the community that way.  I'm sure all two of my readers are laughing hysterically right now because I know I make it sound like we moved to Iceland and not just an hour down the road!
In our short time here I've learned a few things:

• people do not scoop poop here like they did in Memphis.
• it only took me four days to get "small-towners" where I complained about having to drive ALL the way across town to go to Kroger (all the way across town is like five miles).
• I miss the familiarity of Memphis and my Memphis friends.
• things go at a much slower pace here than they did in Memphis and I LOVE that.
• my Target withdrawals have not been nearly as bad as I thought they would be.
• there are tan, skinny college girls everywhere.  Not good for the ole self-esteem.
• I need to go on a diet.  I need a better tan.

Banks has been making the most of his time here at the new house:

Making sure he's close enough to see the "tee-bee"



Laughing it up...

Perfecting his golf swing