This is Nat: Kyler's 2nd Birthday

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Kyler Jace Marks

Born May 4th 2013

6 lbs 11 oz

19.5 inches long

(I can't believe I just wrote all the above without having to look...)

His nickname to me is stinky face. He's got the most infectious little smile and a feisty BIG spirit. His happiness is completely contagious. I can be in a horrible mood, and he turns it around somehow. Without even knowing. He gets the "all or nothing" personality aspect from his daddy. When he's happy he's totally happy. When's he's down, he's really down. When he's mad, you can tell. Oh yes my sweet little Kyler can turn into a raging bull (or swirling tornado?) and destruct anything in his path. We are working on that temper. ;) He has a big heart. He thinks of things, remembers things, notices EVERYTHING, and is so observant.

He will leave his precious bowl of peanuts on the table that he was so ecstatic to receive to go retrieve the pacifier Eli dropped on the floor from his high chair, on the other side of the table. Not much a trek for me and not much of a task for a person, but for a little person, it takes effort to get out of that big boy chair and run to give back little brother's pacy. That's just one small example of his thoughtful heart.

He's tender hearted too. He gets very concerned when Eli or his baby cousins cry or get hurt and always checks on them to make sure they are okay. He'll be the first to hear Eli in our house and blurt out, "BABIES CRYNIN'" and then say "It's okayyy babyyy!".

I've also noticed that he is actually a very obedient little boy most of the time. I know kids are going to be kids...but I am just so proud of how much he listens to me and does what we say. He'll do things for me and help me around the house with small tasks too.

Two years with my Ky have been so precious to me. He's a joy and a stress in my life like I have never known before. I don't say that negatively...it's a part of life and having a little boy. HE IS HARD WORK PEOPLE. But I love it, because I love him. And he is worth investing everything I've got in him.

These are pictures from a little family birthday party we threw for him. Photography by Thousand Words Photography, my brother in law and sister. I really wanted it to express him and his personality. Tons of colors, wild animals, balloons, and STRAWBERRIES. The kid is obsessed.

This party was really budget friendly. The animals were a dollar at Wal-Mart, DIY party hats, DIY cake topper made from sewing together paper letters I cut out, and to hold the straws I used a dollar store glass container that I already had. To customize it, I wrapped it around in the wrapping paper that I used for Kyler's gift from us.

The little party hats were simple to make. I cut up paper from a colorful pack I had, and hot glued the pom poms on. I decorated a few with washi tape, and used baker's twine for the hat string. I wanted to be able to take them off so he could play with the animals later, so I cut holes in the hats and tied the string. I think I ended up hot gluing a few because they weren't staying, and it actually didn't damage the animal when I peeled it off later.

He couldn't keep his hands off the strawberries!

My sister and sister-in-law helped me with the masks. We used construction paper or cardstock and just had fun with it. We copied some of these from Pinterest. Search DIY animals masks, it is easy to find! We used wooden rods and cake pop sticks for the handle.

Aunt Sarah and Aunt Emily walking with Kyler to the crosses that he loves so much.

His Aunt Sarah made this little cross pillow. I think it was the first gift he opened. He opened it, was so so thrilled with it, and immediately got up and proceeded to walk home with it. It was hilarious. He did that AGAIN with his second gift. He wanted to "try out" each gift he got.

This is my dad running after him, haha!

I appreciated that in him though...he didn't just rip all the wrapping and go straight to the next gift. He showed SO MUCH enthusiasm over everything and spent time looking at every present. And he definitely soaked up all the attention he was getting.

We went in on a keyboard with my parents. It was the best decision! It was the cutest thing to watch him play the songs that came on it, and stand there and clap and yell while everyone clapped and laughed with him. Like I said...he soaked up alllllll the attention and loved it. He's a ham.

Once again, he got SO tickled that we were singing "Happy Birthday" to him.

I know he's all boy, and a stinker, and a hyper little maniac sometimes ;) But goodness, he is such a joyful, thoughtful, kind little boy. He was so sweet at his party and it makes my mommy heart sooo proud.