Drew is 2!

To celebrate Drew's 2nd birthday we hosted a small BBQ for immediate family. We held Drew's birthday party several weeks early this year because I am due with baby Mary three days after his actual birthday, and I didn't want to chance not having a time to celebrate Drew as a family. 

I picked the theme of "airplanes" with the colors red, white, and blue because I knew that would make for easy decor with the 4th of July right around the corner. My goal was to keep things simple because of my pregnancy status and this epic heat wave we're having. I made most of the decor using my Silhouette Portrait cutting machine, picked up a few things at the Dollar Store, and outsourced the rest. I must say a huge thank you to my sweet friend Chelsea and her mom Shannon - Shannon makes the world's best cupcakes and we've had the pleasure of enjoying them at both of Drew's birthday parties. They are seriously so yummy, it's all anyone talks about after eating one!

As for the party itself: the little cousins enjoyed water play until it was time to eat, my dad manned the grill, Drew opened gifts, and then we all enjoyed cupcakes - and that was it!

Here are some pictures from the party:

gift table

vintage airplanes

balloon tags: I tied these on the shorter ribbon that hangs down from
the balloon (so not the long ribbon that you use to tie the balloon
to an object) and it made the airplanes look like they were flying

food spread
(the tablecloth shown  here is just a disposable from 
the Dollar Store, but I did use one of these reusable tablecloths 
for the indoor table and I highly recommend them!)

Drew playing with each gift as it was opened...he's a very thoughtful child!

airplane cupcakes 

these turned out so cute!
(used these cupcake baking cups)

happy birthday Drewdle Bug!

This was Drew's big gift from all his grandparents - he was thrilled!

Great-grandpa Bob showing Drew how to "start the engine"

Kyle and the kids playing with Drew's new ride in our driveway

All in all, the party flew by. I cried a little later that night after everyone went home and everything as cleaned up. The party was over in the blink of an eye, just like the past year. I suppose it's normal to feel this way, especially with your first child. I don't wish to go back in time, but maybe just that time could slow down a little...pretty please? 

We pray a lot of prayers for Drew, but my personal repeated prayer for him this past year was that he would have much joy. The transition from baby to toddler is such a momentous occurrence in a tiny person's life, and I really felt convicted to be covering him in the prayer that his days would be joyful. Specifically I often prayed this verse for Drew: "these things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). The Lord is faithful and I am happy to share that Drew's past year of life was undoubtedly characterized with abundant joy. Sure, there were many tears as frustration and disappointment are both a naturally occurring part of a toddler's life, but Drew awoke each morning ready to take on the day with a fullness of life that just radiated joy!

In this next year of life, I feel prompted to pray for Drew's self-control. I'm not intentionally meaning to work through all the fruits of the spirit for him, but self-control just seems prudent for the day-to-day life of a two-year-old. Two verses come to my mind:

• "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" (James 1:19)
• "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7)

If your heart lends itself so, please join us in praying these verses for him as well!

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