Jasper is 2!

The anniversary of Jasper's Birth ended up being much like his arrival two years ago:  it came sooner than we were ready, was fast pace, and didn't look exactly how we imagined it would.  

Since our little Bear fell ill with the flu three weeks ago, he hasn't quite made it back to full health.  Pesky second molars, a lingering cough and resurgence of cold symptoms, along with clingy sleep times in addition to our basic house bound status; not wanting to further expose the kid to more germs since he's so susceptible at this point, have made for quite an interesting end to our baby's second year!  While there've been many smiles and laughs and fun times all around, things have been a bit "clunky" as my husband likes to describe.  Fortunately, though, we were able to make good with what we had to work with-  delirium, cabin fever, a touch of SADS, and all.

Here's what was Good 

Thrifted Creatures

 

Bear's Day

 Snow Suits + Mittens

Brothers

Sled Rides

 

Holding Hands (I first typed Holding Hearts, which also works)

 THis:

Sending Mr.2 down on his own

 

Angel Faces 

Drips

Balloons

Birthday Crowns 

  

 It's a miracle we got him to even wear that adorable head piece for the short time we did!

Stroke of Genius Cast Iron Griddled Pancake Tower with Vegan Maple Butter Cream, made by Mommy  

 We hadn't planned a birthday party, but instead had a low key evening at home with just our closest friends and family.  The morning started super early, and we felt behind all day.  Eventually things came together, we went back and forth about whether or not to make a dessert to stick candles in and sing our boy his Happy Birthday since he's been so under the weather and the sugar would not help those matters.  At the last minute, I went for it and whipped up the pancake tower cake that I had dreamed up a few days ago- incorporating our favorite breakfast treat.  I used a box mix by Cherry Brooks Farms Gluten Free Dairy Free Egg Free Nut Free Pancake and Waffle Mix and jazzed it up with a little shredded coconut, orange zest, and flax seed meal.  The pancakes were griddled in our cast iron with coconut oil and I layered them with a Soy Free Earth Balance, Maple Syrup, and Coconut Sugar Vegan Butter Cream that I winged.  A definite Fun, Easy dessert solution and pretty tasty!

I had planned to spend a bit of time tapping away in reflection about what the past two years of have been like for us, what Jasper has brought- how it's been harder than I imagined but how he is more than I ever dreamed.   I think I'll save all the grit and get to the gleam- these are our best days, even on the hardest of them.  Our little family is EVERYTHING and especially when things don't turn out the way we imagined or visualized, they are are even better in real time.  Jasper's Birthday was just like his Birth- nothing fancy, at home, surrounded by Love and Perfect in an unexpected way.

We are so lucky to have had such a sweet little mid-winter Boy to CELEBRATE- Happy Birthday, little Bear.