Happy 3rd Birthday to Alec

the birthday boy, April 8, 2011

Alec and Ian had been home for only 2 1/2 months when Alec's 2nd birthday rolled around last year. If memory serves me right, I think we celebrated with banana muffins (which he loves) and an otherwise pretty low-key day because life was just a little overwhelming at the time. :)

This year we celebrated again as a family, but this time we did things up right with a yummy birthday cake (mango cream) and a few fun presents. Alec was very proud of himself for having a birthday and Ian was very insistent (albeit erroneously) that it was his birthday, too!

does he look a little excited to you??

I love the look on Alec's face in the picture above. It was the most emotion we got out of him for awhile, since he insisted on remaining utterly serious while opening his presents. It's a quirky personality trait of his that he sometimes does either out of shyness or to garner extra attention. I'm not exactly sure which!

Daddy leads in singing Happy Birthday

There is just something sweet about siblings gathering around to sing Happy Birthday to their brother or sister. I love the image of family togetherness and tenderness that it evokes. In Alec's case, his siblings were all to eager to pitch in with

blowing out candles (notice Ian joining in)

feeding the birthday boy (that would be big sis Isabel's hand)


opening birthday presents (Owen was dreaming of his own birthday soon)


and helping Daddy put together Alec's new scooter.

As I mentioned, Alec was quite the serious guy while opening his presents:

But he seemed plenty happy when it was all said and done!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Alec Stephen! We love you!!