Happy Birthday Robin!

  My baby turned 2 yesterday!  My baby is not a baby anymore.  Thanks to the magic of Facebook, Dave got a pop up reminder of newborn baby Robin.  I can't stop looking at it.  I can remember the touch of his skin so vividly. Those deep soulful eyes. He was so tiny I was afraid I would break him. The way everything in the house felt different once he joined our family. Robin turning two has definitely made me mourn the fact that there will probably be no more little babies.  

Luckily, having three kids gives you little time to wallow in your sorrows.  We had a big boy to celebrate.  We started the day baking his birthday cake.  Robin loves to bake and cook with me.  Since it was his birthday cake, I didn't make him share the stirring with Linus and Eileen.  They were not happy about that at all.  As soon as the cakes came out of the oven, we jumped in the car for a trip to Children's Hospital (after spending the previous evening in the ER with Linus) so that Robin could have his checkup with neuro-developmental.  Little known fact, if you are at Children's on your birthday, they will give you a giant bag full of really nice presents.  It will be waiting for you when you enter the exam room.  Linus has already asked if he can go to the hospital on his birthday too.

After our visit, we went to one of Robin's favorite places--the library.  Then it was home for lunch and a nap.  While the birthday boy napped, his siblings and I broke out all the Halloween decorations, hung streamers for his birthday, and frosted the cake.

In the evening, my parents and younger siblings joined us for dinner, presents, and cake.  Robin's favorite food right now besides ice cream is probably Pediasure.  I thought it would be weird to serve that for dinner for a bunch of adults so instead Dave picked up some pizzas from Costco.

Robin doesn't quite understand the process of opening presents.  While his siblings were chomping at the bit, he could have cared less.  My family was so thoughtful and it made me happy to see how well they knew my child.  Sally even got him some brownie mix and gingerbread mix to go with a cute little apron so he could have something to bake.

Who needs presents when you can look at your sister's Fancy Nancy book?

Robin's eyes lit up when it was time for cake.  He was trying to sing along.  It was so cute.  Linus informed Uncle Tim that this cake was made with meanness, not kindness.  9 hours later, he is still mad about not getting to stir the cake batter.

 Perhaps the most special part of the whole day happened at dinner.  Recently Robin has been identifying people by pointing at them and introducing me as his mama by tapping my leg.  He has never said his own name.  After identifying all the members of his immediate family, he patted his chest and said, "Robin."  My jaw dropped.  We all cheered.  It was absolutely magical and I am so glad so many people were there to witness it.

Eileen and Linus were more than happy to show Robin how to play with his new presents, especially his castle duplos.

Happy Birthday Robin bird.  We love you.  FYI.  Your cake tastes delicious the day after.