Toddler Birthday Blog Swap

I am so blessed to be a part of this amazing little blogging community.  This blog has brought me more joy and friendships than I ever thought possible.  For the second year in a row, we got to exchange gifts with some awesome blogger friends that all have kids right around the same age as Mac.  (read last year's post HERE and see how much Mac has grown - wow)  I have loved watching these kids grow up online and I feel like I know them.  I also feel a special kinship with their mamas, as we've navigated this whole motherhood thing together:  we've commiserated over tantrums and nap schedules, cried tears of happiness over second babies and potty training successes and wept for their losses and parenting struggles.  These mamas (and all mamas) are amazing, so I'm going to gush here a minute.  Feel free to skip this part... ;)  

I was incredibly excited to be able to send a birthday gift to Liam (son of Laura from Tiny Toes, Little Nose).  Laura is one of my all-time favorite mamas - she is sweet and caring and funny and kind.  She's also one of those mamas that I'm constantly in awe over - her gorgeous photos and beautiful children, her natural beauty and total embodiment of a mom.  Read her birth story and tell me you're not just blown away.  Anyway, head over to her blog and see what Mac and I sent Liam.  

And speaking of amazing moms, Mac received his gifts from the absolutely fabulous Elizabeth (from Chasin Mason) and her son Mason.  Elizabeth not only runs and organizes this whole swap, she also is a full-time working mom and awesome blogger - I'm convinced she has super-human powers and was granted more hours in the day than the rest of us because she is always on top on her game.  Their family has the most amazing adventures and she is always so kind and caring in her posts and comments.  She has done incredible things with her blog and her little boy - I think everything she touches is probably amazing.  Her presents to Mac did not disappoint.  

First of all, they came with "poppers," as Mac calls them.  So she automatically gets bonus points before we even get to the gifts.  Mac is obsessed with these poppers and bubble wrap.  The entire present could have been a box of poppers and he would have been the happiest boy in the world. 

Not sure if I've mentioned that Mac loves the characters from Planes: Fire & Rescue at some point, but Elizabeth hit one out of the ballpark with not one, but TWO planes!  Dusty and Blade.  Talk about excitement!  He was jumping up and down in his seat opening them and talking about how Dusty was going to get water and put out all the fires.  

And as if that wasn't enough, Elizabeth sent us a "Bug Catcher" puzzle for Mac.  I had mentioned to her that Mac didn't have the attention span to sit still for even a few minutes to put together a puzzle, but this one was different.  It was almost like fishing for bugs with a little magnetic net and everything!  Point, game, match Elizabeth.  You win.  This was a huge hit! 

But the absolute sweetest thing was that Elizabeth also realized that Mim has a summer birthday, so she sent her a gift as well.  This just about made my heart explode.  So thoughtful and sweet.

Mim got her very own set of Sandra Boynton books, which we desperately needed.  We've loved our Sandra Boyton books to pieces (literally) and I've had to throw a few away that were overloved by Mac and the dogs.  Poor second child.  I'm so excited to read these to her.  But Not the Hippopotamus is my favorite.  

Thank you SO SO SO much Elizabeth and Mason!!  

You guys are the best!!

And check out all the other mamas and minis participating in the exchange:

Amanda & Lily : Tickled Pink
Ashley & Waverly : Words About Waverly
Elizabeth & Mason : Chasin' Mason
Jess & Sadie : Sadie Sky Boutique
Laura & Liam : Tiny Toes, Little Nose
Laura & Presley : Happily Ever Parker
Laureen & Tyson : Chateau Deveau
Natasha & Ethan : Schue Love
Sara & Mac : Running From the Law
Sarah & Brantley : Seeing All Sides
Stephanie & Gray : Olive and Tate
Traci & Charli : The HALLway