I’m sorry everyone…I’ve been really slacking on the baby updates this time around. We’ve taken one progress photo and a few maternity photos at Disney World…and that’s it. The nursery is still a mess and we haven’t even painted it yet.
“We’re not ignoring you baby girl…we’re just really bad with timing this time around, so don’t surprise us with a super early arrival ok?”
I had my shower at work this past week. I don’t normally post too many work details here, but I just have to tell you how amazing my boss is at party-planning. In the 2 years I’ve been here, she’s had to do three wedding showers and 1 baby shower and she can turn a conference room into another world when you walk in.
There was lots of delicious food and it was nice to see everyone come by for a visit. Even Brett and Trent joined us
One of the items on our Baby Registry is a Baby Jogger City Select Double Stroller, so everyone pitched in to make a little mobile with photos of me and the stroller and money to go towards the stroller. Such a cute idea!
I’m so happy to work with such wonderful people. It was also nice enjoying all the leftovers the next day!
On Saturday, we took another trip to Grayton Beach State Park (see our last trip here), ending with dinner at Red Robin. We wanted to make at least one more beach trip before the baby comes, and this was a beautiful day to do it. It was extremely hot, I may have gotten a bit burnt, but it was a fun day. Here are some photos from that day…and a video at the end too!
When it came time to start thinking of a theme for Trent’s 2nd birthday party, it was actually pretty easy. One of the very first animal sounds Trent knew how to make was a dinosaur roar and it’s so cute, he even puts his hands up and shakes them…he’s a pretty convincing dinosaur.
He already had several dinosaur toys too, so we figured a dinosaur party would be fun to do and he would get a kick out of roaring all day (which he totally did).
We wanted to be much easier on ourselves this year compared to his first birthday. We created a secret, shared Pinterest board with some ideas, but it probably only had 1/3 the amount of pins his secret monster party idea board had. It wasn’t that we were being lazy, but we each picked a couple of things to do and felt like it was the perfect amount.
Let’s start with the invitations. We checked out a few invite sites online and came across this dinosaur invite on Minted.com. Last year, Brett made the entire invitation, but this was too cute to pass up, especially since it would be easier since we were ordering right before our Disney trip in May and wanted to get them out asap. I loved the options for the personalized return address labels, the pre-printed addresses and the dinosaur design on the back.
For the outside of the house, we blew up a few of these dinosaur Happy Birthday balloons. I also drew a welcome sign on his chalkboard easel. Usually Brett is the dinosaur artist, but I was so proud of my dinosaur on this sign!
I drew it the night before and Trent wanted to take the chalk and draw too. I felt bad saying no and had to hide the chalkboard in my closet so it wouldn’t get messed up (except I smeared it when I was changing my shirt…way to go mom).
We hung this sign on the front door that we also got from Minted.com in the same design as the invitations.
In the living room, we set up the mantle with letters I painted, two jumbo inflatable dinosaurs and one of our favorite photos of Trent.
The letters were so easy! I just bought cardboard letters from Hobby Lobby and painted them with acrylic paint.
Next to that was our dinosaur photobooth setup! Last year, Brett created two very large, awesome furry monsters, but time got away from us and we didn’t get as many photos as we would have liked. This year, we didn’t get everyone that attended (sorry everyone!) but we got way more than last year…and that makes me happy. Especially since we got some of us!
The dinosaur background and dinosaur masks were from Amazon. I made the prop signs using PicMonkey (stay tuned for a separate post with the downloadable signs) and printed them on thick paper, glued cardboard to the back, and then stuck skewers in the cardboard. I think people had fun with this!
The main focus was the dining room…of course, that’s where the cake is!!
For the wall, we hung plastic tablecloths on a curtain rod with a dinosaur Happy Birthday sign from Amazon, and then some fluffed tissue paper poms in the corners.
Brett made the volcano cake…chocolate cake with homemade chocolate icing. Mmmm. For the lava icing, he used orange and red canned icing dispensers. It was super easy!
My attempt at a dinosaur made of grapes for the fruit tray…was interesting.
Brett said it looked like a horse I guess that’s what happens when you don’t pull up your pinned image from Pinterest as a reference and are making it as people are walking up to the door!
Brett made peanut butter cookies with dinosaur fossil footprints. For some reason, cookies kept disappearing from the tray while we were preparing for the party. I suspect a certain 2 year old was taking advantage of their close proximity to the edge of the table…
We also had tortilla chips with salsa and spinach & artichoke cheese dip.
Brownie brittle.
Lunch was delicious pizza and breadsticks from Marco’s. SO SO SO much easier than last year!! Thank you Marco’s for making it easy for us! Haha.
We also had a salad courtesy of Brett. He makes the best salads.
Sweet tea and lemonade. We’re in the south y’all!
Out on the back porch, we transformed Trent’s rock box into a Dino Dig!
I made the sign using PicMonkey and Brett cut the grass from 2 sheets of green posterboard. I scattered a bunch of mini dinosaurs into the rocks and left out sand-buckets (from the dollar spot in Target) for the kids to search through the rock box for the dinosaurs. At the end of the party, the kids could take home a bucket with some dinosaurs. The kids loved it and I’m sure Trent will still be finding dinosaurs for a few weeks!
Outside, kids enjoyed the pool, along with the purple elephant pool and splash pad. We also brought out the Monster toss from last year!
How awesome is Trent’s shirt?
It says “T-Rexy and I Know It!” We got the dinosaur shirt from Amazon. We originally ordered a 2T but it was too small, so we had to rush to reorder a 3T and I’m so happy they shipped it fast and we got it in time.
He only had it on for about 20 minutes until he ran outside and wanted to play in the water once other kids started showing up, but then he got to wear his new dinosaur swimsuit from Old Navy! Dinosaur everything!
As the host, I felt like I was running around making sure everyone was happy and kept wondering if I should put my swimsuit on and bring Trent in the pool, but he’s kinda off-and-on about the pool. Sometimes he just wants to run around the pool and the grass or sit on the steps and play with toys without them floating away, which is what he was doing this day…sitting on the edge next to people and playing with the water and toys. So, that’s what I left him to do! It was a good opportunity for him to play with other kids and adults, since he doesn’t see them as often.
I thought it was going to be a nightmare taking him away from everyone to come inside and do gifts and cake, but he did so well. To be honest, we were kinda worried since by this time last year, the shyness and tiredness was consuming him and he didn’t even want to touch the cake and presents, but we couldn’t be happier with how well he did this year. He opened all of his gifts on his own and clapped along with everyone when they would clap for him.
He even shared his toys with friends while he was opening them.
More dinosaurs!
He looked like he was trying to read what was on each toy!
Then came the true test of shyness, time to sing happy birthday!
He stood there and watched everyone sing to him and even attempted to blow the candles out himself.
He even decided to give the cake a little taste test before daddy could cut the first piece.
After that, some people headed out and some lingered and it was just a relaxing time. I hope everyone that joined us had a good time and I especially hope Trent had fun, too. We’re so glad he had fun with the theme, roaring whenever someone would ask him what a dinosaur says. Brett’s sister even brought all of Aiden’s old dinosaur toys for him to keep!
If you’re interested in purchasing any of the dinosaur items we used (or need some more ideas too) below is an Amazon widget that includes links to everything to make it easy for you!
Here are some pinnable images if you’d like to save some ideas to your Pinterest board!
While I am sad I am not home to celebrate your special day, I know Daddy will do something special! And just think about how much fun you’ll have at your birthday party this weekend! I’m excited for you to play with your friends and have a fun-filled day. Let’s hope you aren’t as tired and cranky and shy as last year! We’ll never let you live that down
You’re getting bigger and smarter every day. You absolutely love your rock box and going to the park. The pool has been a little cold this year, but hopefully you will start to enjoy that much more as it warms up. Mostly, you definitely love being outside.
The only downside is that your hair does some crazy things in this Florida humidity…
You are as picky as ever when it comes to food. We never know what to make for you because one day you will like something and the next day you will spit it out! You open the pantry all the time looking for snacks, and you often bring me the entire Cocoa Puffs box to open. You don’t like strollers or high chairs, so when we go to a restaurant, we have to get a booth so you can sit or stand on your own.
You have been to Disney World 6 times in your life so far…that’s crazy! Expect many more trips to see Mickey and friends
This last trip, you reached your very first height restriction ride…the Tomorrowland Speedway! You were so proud holding your little driver’s license.
You’ve already been outside of the country…to the Bahamas on a cruise! There was no need for a passport, but we got one for you anyway. I wonder if you will get any stamps on it before it expires in 5 years.
You love your Sheepy more than ever. One question though, why did you have to pick a white stuffed animal? Daddy has had to wash Sheepy while you sleep so many times!
You love playing with and feeding the dog….often chasing him around in circles for as long as your little legs will let you…which is a long time! I’m sure the dog has gotten more exercise in the past 2 years than in his other 9 years combined. The cat tries to run away from you, but sometimes you are able to grab him and then he doesn’t seem to try to run away from you after that….cats, I don’t understand them either. You also love seeing and brushing the goats at Animal Kingdom. I think you are just like your Dad when it comes to your love of animals.
We know you are going to be the best big brother. You have always loved to share…toys, snacks, drinks…so I hope you will continue that and share with your sister, at least until the sibling rivalry inevitably shows up. I’m glad you will have a new playmate in the house to keep you (and all of us) busier than ever!
I hope you always feel just as loved, important and special as ever…because you are. Every day. Forever.
Today is Brett’s official birthday, but we celebrated with family on Saturday at Texas Roadhouse. This location opened about a year ago and it has yet to disappoint. I think Brett and I get the same thing every time…why mess with what’s right?
This night, we were seated in Willie’s Corner.
There are peanuts a’plenty, as well as shells all over the floor…which could be an OCD person’s worst nightmare.
We both started out with a house side salad with Caesar dressing…their side salad is so tasty and not skimpy.
Brett got a plate of gravy…there may or may not be a big country fried chicken hiding under there with mashed potatoes.
I got the 6 oz. sirloin and a sweet potato with cinnamon butter. They also offer a loaded sweet potato with cinnamon butter, marshmallows and caramel, which is like a dessert in and of itself, but I decided to take it easy tonight
Trent was very well-behaved and ate plenty of rolls (their rolls and honey butter are so good!), some peanuts and some of his dinner. I guess that was his gift to Daddy this year…no tantrums in public places for 1 day
Anyone that knows Brett knows how much he HATES getting any attention for his birthday in restaurants. Although, we always go out to restaurants for his birthday instead of doing it at someone’s house, so maybe he secretly hopes for it…I don’t know. What I do know is how hilarious it was for him to have to get up on a saddle while they all yelled his name and “Yee-haw!”
He’ll probably hate it even more that I posted that photo here. There is a video out there courtesy of our niece (those dang teenagers are so quick with video and social media…I swear the video was posted on her account before he even got off the saddle!)
But that’s what birthdays are for…family/friends, fun and a little bit of embarrassment on the side.
Our Sunday was a bit relaxing with some pool time and swinging for Trent and I (it was beautiful outside!), and errands and yard work for Brett (Happy Father’s Day, I guess? - That’s what happens with a kid’s birthday party to prepare for.) We gave him his Father’s Day gift a day early…a Roku Streaming Stick for his tv upstairs and this…
It was supposed to be made with paint, but Trent did NOT want to touch the paint and it was starting to head into mess disaster area, so I traced his hands on foam sheets and cut them out. Pay no attention to the random sizing of the letters…i normally have nice handwriting, but I think I get nervous when making something in permanent marker as a gift or something.
Tonight, I will pick up something for dinner to bring home, Brett’s choice, and hopefully watch the final episode of Breaking Bad. We’ve been watching one episode every 1-2 nights on Netflix and we are at the end. Whatever shall we watch next?!
The Photographer's Wife Parenting, Disney, Travel, Reviews & Other Randomness
I guess that’s what happens when you don’t pull up your pinned image from Pinterest as a reference and are making it as people are walking up to the door!
