Lochlan's 2nd birthday

I think 2nd birthdays are a lot of fun. It's really the first one where the kid can kind of understand it. So for about two weeks, we've been telling Lochlan that he's going to be two ("No," he says), and that we're all going to sing him "Happy Birthday," and he's going to blow out a candle (and we showed him how to practice), and we're going to have presents and cake!

A few days ago, he started getting really excited about the cake. Not about eating it, but something about the idea that other people would eat his cake was really delightful to him. He kept asking, "Adadeh eat cake? Grandma eat cake? Daddy eat cake? Boompah eat cake?"

And when we would sing him the birthday song, at first he would say "NO!" but then he'd smile and laugh.

We were telling him what his presents might be -- toys, books, shoes -- and he said "monkey shirt." We asked, "Do you want a monkey shirt?" His current affirmative nod is amazing: he leans his head WAY back, then pauses a suspenseful second, then, grinning, throws his head forward, hair flopping. Yes, he nodded, he wants a monkey shirt. 

So we had the party today, and he liked everything. The cake, the presents, blowing out the candle... He loved, in particular, a farting dog on wheels (hey, whatever floats your boat, kid). When I came out the door with the cake in my hand and started singing, he was so overjoyed he just threw his arms around my legs so I couldn't even walk anywhere. 

He got his monkey shirt.

Later, he confirmed that everyone had some cake. 

He has no chill when it comes to cake.

Later still, we were in the car on the way home from dinner, and he wished me, Azadeh, and Grandma a happy birthday (pretty clearly, too). "Happy burday, Mama!" 

Happy birthday to you, too, my sweet boy.