Finley's 3rd birthday!

I think Finley had a lovely birthday. The day started with Kevin and I singing Happy Birthday to him in bed. Then we were off to Tea and Tale where Lisa made him an amazingly delicious carrot cake in the shape of a star, made him a star necklace and a crown, and did a special puppet show about a baby (him) coming to earth from a star on a rainbow.

Afterward, we headed home for a nap, then we were off to Flagpole Hill for his kite party.

Here is Astrid and Jolie playing with their little kites we gave all the kids.

And Kevin getting  the big kite ready.

That's my mom (Noni) in the red shirt.

Lourdes and baby Ellie

Getting ready to sing and have cake.

Blowing out his candles

I love this picture! 

You may recognize the plates from his first and second birthdays.  They are those Preserve plates- very durable!

Did I mention the Caelan and baby Ellie are 4 days apart?  We did not plan that!

Mama Cass dished out the goods!

Also for the record- the chocolate cake was actually made with carob powder instead of cocoa to eliminate caffeine and applesauce replaced 2/3 of the butter and 3/4 of the sugar and I replaced some of the white flour with whole wheat. Not bad!  Seriously, it was pretty good!

That's Kevin, Finley, and Astrid.

And here is Finley, back at the cake and ice cream, all by himself- eating more.

Zen with a little doodle bug.

Kam and Marion

Noni and Caelan

And here he is eating more...

and more...

and more...

and more still!

Ooh a brush from Noni- just what he always wanted.  I think that was a hint to me!  Really he loves to brish his hair so  he can make it long so people can climb his hair!

And that night at home, at the time of his birth, we sang to him one last time and let him have more cake!

Opening his gifts from us.  He loves his magic rocks.

His tree- 2 years old!

And here is the end of the cake.  We pigged out on it yesterday after nap!

Thanks to everyone who made Finley's birthday so special.  We love our friends and appreciate  everyone who came to celebrate with us!

Not a baby, or even a toddler anymore.

This was Finley's last day being 2 years old.  I am so overwhelmed with feelings I can't describe.  Happy yet sad.  Excited yet dreadful.  It's unbelievable that he is like- not a baby, in a whole new developmental stage, at the age (I thought would take forever to get to) that he can play with all those neat toys that say "3 and up."

Not that I got him toys for his birthday.  I figured others will take care of that.
This book is one thing I got for Finley for his birthday.  This book is AMAZING!  It's so beautifully illustrated and it is such a simple yet profound explanation of the world.  I highly recommend it!
 
Also, we got him tumbled rock crystals- 4 little stones with a little pouch to put them in.  He got a clear quartz, emerald fuchsite, pink spinel, and hematite.  If you are wondering why in the world I gave him crystals for his birthday, read this article.

Just before he closed his eyes tonight, he said, "I love you mommy.  And I love Astrid and Jolie, and chocolate and doughnuts and oatmeal and my sandbox and playing in water and smashing my jelly cakes (sandcastles) and helping you with dinner and making cookies and watching Spongebob and carrots with ranch and teff and my kitchen and going to the park..." In that order.  I'm not sure why he wanted to tell me everything he loves, he's never done that. And he also left out a lot.  I think he was soooo tired and just rambling. 

For our memories-

Before bed, I have to sing songs.  I sing- "All Things Bright and Beautiful,"  "Go to Sleepy Little Baby," "The Body of the Ocean," (which if Caelan is crying and I sing this he always immediately stops) and "Frere Jaques."  Also, before bed, if I am with him I tell him stories about Jessie- I made Jessie up- and it's like it's him I just retell his day to him but say it's Jessie, but sometimes he and Jessie go on adventures.  But if Kevin is putting him to bed, he asks him for stories about a boy named Charlie.

And his diet: every single day he asks for: Teff, O's, and a peanut (butter) sandwich and apples/applesauce.  That's all he ever wants.  Luckily we can also get him to also have a green smoothie, and eat black beans or lentils with brown rice, salmon, tuna, and yogurt.  Also he lovesand I mean LOVES this soup with "cheesy toast."  And he loves broccoli too.   And...for the extra special treat- unsweetened chocolate almond milk with yummy   Shake and Go or chocolate Amazing Grass.  But that's really the basics of what he eats on a regular basis.  I guess it could be worse!

I guess that's all the little details of his 3 year old life.  I am just so ferklempt about this 3 year old milestone.  I wish we could push pause!

April already?

I have to report that Finley is such a wonderful, sweet, caring big brother.  He always brings toys for Caelan to play with.  If Caelan spits up he runs to get a cloth and gently wipes it away.  If he sees danger he removes it- like in the case of the purple tablecloth in the background of this picture, he  folds the edges out of his reach so he can't pull it off and have the things on the table fall on his head.  But there are times that make me crazy- like when he spit cereal all over his head and thought it was sooooo funny that Caelan had milk dripping down his face.  Or when I walked in the room and he was standing on him- on his bum. 

Finley really likes me to take his picture, especially after he's done something goofy- like stick his face in ketchup.

 Look how similar their eyes are- like saucers!

Caelan turned 6 months old the other day so we marked the occasion with his first food- sweet potatoes.  Though afterward I decided to wait a little longer to make it a habit.  I'm not convinced his digestive system is ready.  Once he is capable of sitting better without support we will try again.   

They LOVE each other so much. Please ignore gross carpet.

Finley is enjoying painting.  Every day he asks to paint. 

After he is done painting on paper,  he enjoys covering his body.  Blue is his regular preference.

Here he said, "Look mom, I painted a circle!"  This was without my prompting!  Who needs preschool?!

Getting creative here- he got out the pipe cleaners and made a "weed eater."

Daddy brought home tattoos from work. 

Perfect lazy day dinner-  I keep Meatless Meatloaf Muffins and Zucchini Pancakes in the freezer.  When I'm not cooking a meal it is oh so convenient and guilt free!  Plus it's hearty- guaranteed to avoid the bedtime hungrys!  I've had people ask for the recipes so- Meatloaf Muffins on food.com
and
Zucchini Pancakes
2C grated zucchini
2 Eggs
1/2 C chickpea flour
1/2 C parmesan
1/2 C mozzarella
variation:instead of parm/mozz use 1C cheddar
 mix all ingredients and cook like pancakes on med-high heat. makes about 8

fake smile

Kevin's friend "Uncle Lupe" gave these cars to Finley.  They were such a hit that I woke up in the middle of the night to find him playing with them, he turned the light on in the back porch room and was vrooming away!

Random Caelan pics!

 

Snug with daddy while I go off to "work" at the Hauschka counter.

Mud monster.  Enough said.

Finley will be three in a few days.  Though this is a hard age as far as him exerting independence (defiance) it is soooo fun to hear what comes out of his mouth.  He has a full vocabulary and use of language that astounds me.  If you ask him to tell a story he begins with, "Once upon a time in a far away land..." then will literally talk your ear off telling a story peppered with great detail of him and his friends (usually Vin as his accomplice and Sienna as the princess they rescue) and their adventures with dragons, forests, mountains, tigers, sharks and always chocolate.  Chocolate rivers, trees, and big cakes. This started with Kevin encouraging the stories by asking questions and planting ideas but now he's off and can really tell a  whopper!

Notice the positions!