Happy 2nd Birthday, "Baby Isaac!"

Is that the most handsome 2 year old you've ever seen, or what??? Okay, so I may be a smidge biased, but truly that smile can light up a room and turn the hardest of hearts soft.

It's hard to believe this little guy, still lovingly referred to in our social circle as "Baby Isaac," is now a 2 year old on the verge of big boy status.

At 2 years of age, Isaac is a wonderfully independent child. He attacks life with exuberance and takes play VERY seriously. So seriously you can often spy on him talking to his toys and playing with such purpose and so intensely there is a furrow in his brow. Unlike his big brother, Isaac can play for more than an hour without ever checking to make sure he hasn't been abandoned. This is wonderful at home, but scary when we're out in public. The kid has little to no fear, and can disappear in a split second. I definitely have to keep an eye on him.

Isaac has grown into a funny and light-hearted little boy. He loves to laugh and to make other people, especially his big brother, laugh. He has developed quite the little sense of humor, and unfortunately likes to do his stand up routine at the dinner table. Despite the ever-more-frequent tantrums, Isaac is a generally mild-mannered child and perpetually happy.

Isaac loves choo-choos, cars, trucks, cars, cookies, cars, Calem--and cars. So, understandably, we had a car-themed birthday party for Isaac with just a few friends. The kids enjoyed racing cars down a plywood ramp and eating a chocolate race-car cake.

The race ramp was a huge hit, and I have plans to paint it and make it look like a real drag-race track at some point.

These are Isaac's closest friends. He's so lucky to have been fully welcomed into the "big-boy" crowd. It's funny, because some of Calem's friends actually prefer to play with Isaac at times! Ah, the benefits of having a brother so close in age.Happy Birthday, Isaac. Mommy loves you so, so much! But you need to stop growing up so fast.