Paul Turns One

 I am a second child 

and therefore I am sensitive to the struggle second children have. Less pictures, hand-me-down clothes that don't fit,  second hand bikes outgrown by an older sister. Older "cool" friends coming over and not being allowed to play with them, going to bed earlier than a sibling, I could go on. 

Say what you will about birth order but let me tell you...

The struggle is real. 

I had high hopes for myself when I was pregnant with Paul. No second child clichés I swore. 

I have failed.

So, so badly.

Happy Birthday, Paul! We got William a new car seat so that you could use his old one!! 

Promise you'll forget about that and if you ever read this, I'm sorry. 

While talking to my mom on the phone about Paul's upcoming birthday we decided that I had better destroy all pictures of William's first "over the top birthday party" or pull up my sleeves for Paul. 

I mustered up all my strength and found my inner first-time-mom-ness to bake him a sugar free cake. 

I wanted to make him a mini cake but couldn't find a cake pan small enough in the .2 seconds I gave myself to plan. So, I did what anyone would do,

I used an empty tuna can.

 #nailedit

 Chicken of the Sea does not sponsor my blog but let me tell you, it made the perfect little cake for my babe. 

Tuna can for the win!

I'm getting ahead of myself. We started the day off with the our family tradition, 

shirtless pancakes.

Paul looks like he got punched in the nose due to a basketball/walking/pavement/older bother incident 

Pretty much every birthday meal deserves a candle 

and of course what Paul gets, William NEEDS

Not only does this picture illustrate my sons model qualities, it highlights a diaper on the table.

I am an awesome mother 

Looks like I cleaned up my act for the re-take. 

Paul, 

Please forgive your mother for not documenting your life in as much detail as your brothers!

You are the sweetest little squish around!

You are sensitive and kind. 

Observant and smart. 

Adventurous and daring. 

You're quick to laugh and smile. 

You snuggle with me all the time.

You still peacefully fall asleep in my arms at church (I love you for this)

You would eat one million raisons a day if I let you and I would, if it weren't for the diaper later. 

You look, act and behave older than you are.

You love music and will dance and clap and laugh when you hear a tune you like.

You love your brother and think he is the funniest.

You are sneaky and unroll the toilet paper at the earliest opportunity. 

You are social and dislike being alone.

You are still happy if you're tired but

if you're hungry, you're a bear

You like to cuddle stuffed animals and will scream with excitement when you see them in the store.

You say, car, doggy, bubble, water, milk, amen, no, bravo, hello, bye-bye 

Happy Birthday, Paul. Let me take a million pictures of you on laundry day.

Matt met us for lunch and then we went to the jumping castle

because I thought that would be fun for a one year old

 It was super fun for a three-year-old...

I also hadn't chopped of your mullet yet. 

By this point, Paul had been walking for a little over two months.  The inflated plastic however, was still a big hurtle for the little dude. 

   

I'd say he was only minorly traumatized 

He kept looking at me like, "Why did you take me here mom?"

All he wanted was that giant bear

 The rest of us had fun though

And now what you've all been waiting for, 

the sugar free tuna can cake!

For the record, William and Paul preferred this cake over the chocolate cupcakes I made for the party. 

And of course,

William's 

 That night we had a little cake celebration and I cried myself to sleep. 

How is my baby so big!

I don't remember being this emotional when William turned one.

Was I?

That weekend (Valentines Day) we had a little party. And I do mean little because our apartment (although twice the size of our last) only fits like 5 people in it.  I tried to get a few baby friends for Paul but again, I think William had more fun.

I tried

Happy Birthday sweet Polly Ollie