Alexander rides into his second birthday

Alexander's birthday was Thursday. We spent the day making age jokes and reminiscing about his youth.

His birthday this year is really more of a collection of days related to his birthday. Darrick is building a swing set this week, so we're planning to celebrate once that's up, next Saturday. It's a little late, February and all, but we have to take advantage of Alexander being calendrically challenged while we still can. (He's still stuck on the switch from Julian to Gregorian. Phht. Babies.)

I'm even going to bake a cake.

Just thought I'd give you time to let that sink in.

And Alexander's birthday celebration began a couple of weeks before his birthday. He got a sweet Yo Gabba Gabba coloring book with crayons from the Bearse family. He LOVES it. And this was his expression when he first saw Nana and Papa's gift for him.



He approached it cautiously, as he should approach any horse. Especially one on skis.



But once he was on, he couldn't stop smiling:




And for those of you who were thinking our boy might be retarded because he hadn't talked yet (you know who you are--I found the online pool), well, he has started talking up a storm.

Witness his new favorite phrase:

December Shenanigans

A lot happened in December. We went to Minnesota, where Darrick's sister, Dawn, and her husband, Joe, took us in off the cold, cold streets. We were there for two storms, one that closed down 94 from Alexandria to Fargo, as well as some record-breaking cold days. On the way to Christine and Jim's wedding, we did a 180 in the rental car, actually ending up in the same lane, just facing the car behind us. (Yes, I was driving.)

Grandpa and Grandma Mallon came down to visit, and later in the week, we braved the trip up to Alexandria, where Alexander got his first pair of snowpants and went out to play in the snow. We forgot our camera on that trip, so we'll have to wait to post the photos they send us from one of those antique cameras that hold film.









We visited with all kinds of Bearses: Grandpa and Grandma, and Alexander's Uncle Eric and Aunt Jené, and his cousins Charlotte and Andrew. Plus, we saw Uncle Greg and Aunt Jeannie and cousin Randi among many others when we celebrated Christmas. Grandpa took the kids for a sleigh ride around the backyard. (Yes, that's a plastic storage lid with a rope tied to it.)





We met up with various friends throughout our stay, for pizza, beer, wild animal rides. The usual.







Near the end of our stay, after not napping for most of the trip, Alexander experienced the effects of sleep deprivation on his mood.



But he had a good time at the rehearsal dinner, entertaining folks with his beat boxing and general hamming.




He cried throughout Jim and Christine's wedding, which was beautiful, so I don't blame him. I got a little weepy myself. Look at my beautiful sister. Just look at her. Go on.



Too bad Darrick missed most of it. He spent the entire ceremony holding Alexander out in the foyer. But the boy got a second wind at the reception and danced the night away. Yes, that's a twenty-dollar bill he's holding. My brother Joe lent it to him to play with. Uncle Joe's sense of age-appropriate toys is uncanny.





After we got home to 70-degree Tucson, we had yet another Christmas. Alexander opened gifts from us (Jeep Big Wheel and Spiderman punching bag) and from Nana and Papa.