It's funny because the day before he turned two I wasn't ready to give up my little one year old baby at all. But the day he turned two I just felt so proud and happy, and so did he. His teacher even told me, "You don't have a baby anymore! He's two now." And I didn't mind a bit.
I still want to stop and reflect on right now. I need to press pause just for a moment.
My parents were here for his actual birthday and it was amazing. It's always hard to figure out a way to celebrate on his actual birthday when it falls on a weekday. Ryan still has to go to work and the baby gets tired pretty quickly.
This year was so much better than last year. When he turned one I cried because he wouldn't even try the cake, we were just barely starting to learn about his issues with food, and I couldn't believe a baby wouldn't get into having a smash cake. This year he licked the frosting off one candle and we let it be at that.
He absolutely loved blowing out the candles though. At school he did try some of the chocolate chip muffins we sent in. My Dad and I joined him for snack time. His teacher had fake candles for him to blow on but he wasn't interested in the least. I thought that he didn't understand the concept. He proved me wrong at home though.
He got another surprise when Avinash arrived home from a school. A friend of his sent over a bunch of Elmo balloons and an Elmo cupcake. I dropped it so the frosting fell off, but that may have been the best thing because he ate almost all of it. I think it is easier for him without mixed textures.
After Ryan came home things were starting to get late and hectic again we ended up having a cake delivered from instacart. That was a godsend. My mom made a wonderful Indian dinner and the cake was delivered pretty promptly after that.
He was so excited when he saw his cake. He was singing along with us, very loudly "to you!!" He blew out his candles and quickly indicated that he wanted them lit again.
We relit the candles at least ten times before we cut the cake. He still begged us for more so we finished up the entire box of matches until we were breathless from laughter.
Lakshman you are two-er than two. You are a big ball of energy. You are constantly running around, throwing with a very strong pitch, high jumping with two feet of the ground or just generally spinning around in a circle.
You are still pretty timid at school, but a few days ago I heard that you are starting to assert yourself. Home is a whole different story and you can be very naughty. Mostly when it comes to hitting your brother and sister. Whenever we tell you to go to time out, you run right over to the stairs and sit down. A few seconds later you usually come running back, saying in your best sing-songy voice "kiss you!"
You also have learned how to tattle really well. After many car rides spent listening to Avi or Nandini or both complaining, "He/she touched me!", you learned this is a pretty big trangression. Whenever someone taps you, won't share with you or looks at you funny, you proudly declare, "He touch me!". He even started saying that about us when we tell him no. It's not something I really want to encourage but it's so cute, it's hard not to laugh.
You love your family so much and it shows. Whenever we go to get Nandini from school, you go right up to her face and start talking to her and hugging her. She watches over you on the playground and tells all her friends to take her of her baby. On your birthday she made them all sing to you.
You are even starting to make your own friends at school. A little boy wanted some chocolate you were eating on valentine's day and you gave him your entire piece and then tried to take some out of Katie's bag to give him more. I was so proud of you for being a good friend.
You love reading books. You love Jamberry and Dear Zoo a lot right now. You love Elmo, all things Sesame Street, really, Octonauts, Pokemom and Pikachu. It's adorable to hear you imitate Pikachu because you sound exactly like him.
He is still pretty much in a holding pattern with his eating. His eosinophilic esophagitis is much better since we got him off pediasure and on to neocate. His weight gain is super slow still (which is why he fits in the same Valentine's onesies as last year). He has been eating okay for the past few weeks. The Monday after his birthday party he ate a ton of food.
He even finally had his smash cake moment with a cupcake in the backseat of the car. I could not have been happier. He also had potatoes dipped in ketchup, a slice of pizza and half a lara bar. It was like a miracle. He tried baba ganoush later that week too.
He gets therapy two or three times a week right now. He has made so many strides. It's always funny to me how people think that therapy is a bad thing, but I've never felt that or thought that. He needs help and I'm happy that there are people better trained and more knowledgable than me who can help him learn.
Happy Birthday Baby Bear Lakshman Hecker!
