Tradition.

Rylie's birthday is nearly a month away! Her second birthday!! My first child is turning two!!!

We will no longer refer to her age in "months"...but will begin using only "years." She will lose her binky. And hopefully, before too much longer, I will buy my last pack of pull-ups for her. It's possible that she will experience her first weekend spent away from home this year (she has some very eager grandparents who are wanting her to spend the weekend with them...sans mommy and daddy). We recently graduated from using her diaper bag and she now sports a very fun and trendy back-pack. She is beginning to talk in full sentences and has already started asking "what" and "why" questions...over and over and over again. She enjoys watching Elmo, dancing, playing with her dolls, and coloring. She really is growing up!

It literally feels like yesterday when I was planning for her one year birthday celebration. And here I am...one year later...planning her second. And this year, I plan on starting a few family traditions. I don't really know why...but I LOVE the idea of a fun tradition that grows to be expected. Even though the traditions I am planning are simple...I'm still eager to establish them this year!

Introducing...

the birthday wreath:

I plan on hanging up this wreath on each of our birthdays. And I'm hoping that when our kids see the wreath, they instantly feel the birthday FUN and the memories that are about to be created!

Also...

the hidden cupcake:

Each birthday boy/girl will wake up to this ceramic cupcake sitting out. But sometime throughout the day, the cupcake will disappear. And when it comes time, the birthday boy/girl will get the chance to look for the hidden cupcake; which now hides a "special" birthday gift.

Call me cheesy. And I'll admit. :)

(I'm super excited about Rylie's birthday theme this year. And I'm attempting to make a lot of the decor myself...with help from my awesomely talented scrapbooking fanatic friend, Amanda. Stay tuned for pictures.)