Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Wow! I do not even really know where or how to begin this post. Honestly, I have been dreading this day for quite some time and I am really not even totally sure why it bothers me this much. On this day, at 7:30am, 4 years ago, my life changed forever...for the better, of course. That was the day my little Boog came out to face the world, all whopping 6lbs. 14oz. and 19" of him. Let me tell you, he was a little booger indeed. I knew on that day that there was something very special about this child. The child that would totally bring our little family together. He is a part of all of us, what holds us together in a sense. It was love at first sight for sure. He had me from the beginning.


All of you who "know" us, know he didn't stay tiny for long. By the time he was a few months old, he was quite the little chunk. Such a sweet baby boy with a budding personality.

At 2, he was such a joy to be around. He was my blonde haired beauty. We loved his hair and could not bring ourselves to go near it with scissors. He was really starting to become "Daddy's Boy" by now, still clinging to Mommy though too.
By 3, Daddy could do no wrong. He wanted to be with Daddy no matter what. He was Daddy's main helper, his shadow and his best friend. Where has the blonde baby boy gone? This year would change his life forever. This is the year he would become a big brother. I will not lie, I had my doubts. He would talk about the baby when he wanted to. He said no, he did not want to be a big brother and that the baby could live with someone else. I was fearful that my baby would be forever changed, scarred in some way, his childhood ruined. This year, his personality really started to shine through. He became more outspoken, not as shy...more outgoing, funnier, quite the character. He became the life of the party.My, look how he has changed this year...3 was a big year. He lost his baby of the house status, becoming a big brother, started going into his music classes alone, started going into (and enjoying) kid's church on his own. Daddy is his best friend but over the last month, Mommy has moved back into his favorite person list, not really that I ever left, I think I just had to share the spotlight for a while. He really loves his friends and cannot wait to see them. He loves play dates but still really enjoys playing alone. Wow, he has grown up so much this last year. He is the most fantastic big brother ever. We could not have asked for that transition to go more smoothly. He absolutely LOVES his baby brother. This child is sweet, loving, caring, gentle and you just would not believe how funny he is. He is super smart too. Do I even need to add that he is absolutely gorgeous to boot?! Yea, I didn't think so...
His personality really shines through in everything he does. You cannot look at him without smiling and you cannot know him without loving him. He is quite the people pleaser too. Mr. Funnyman, always putting on a show.

He adores (most of the time) his older brother...

and his sister too. He has such a different relationship with each of them.

My beautiful little boy told me just last night that he still did not want to turn 4 years old. In a way, it just breaks my heart because I do not want him to turn 4 years old either. So much changes when they turn 4, somehow they seem more grown up and I think he knows that. Soon, he will be off to pre-school, then kindergarten and....I just do not know if my heart can take it. Of course deep down these are really happy feelings and a happy time. There is just something about this child...maybe it has to do with the losses we had before, maybe it is because he is ours. I do not know, I just know I cannot explain it. I mean do not get me wrong, I love all of my children with all of my heart, with everything I am, but there is just something about this little boy that I cannot explain. I sit here in tears writing this, my baby is 4.
He is such a clown.

But he has a serious side as well. How did we get so lucky?

He is a deep thinker...

a free spirit...

he is full of love and passion...

he loves all people...
and the boy LOVES TO BREAKDANCE! He has got some moves...

This child is my heart and soul and I am just torn up that he is growing up so fast. Geez, kindergarten is really going to kill me. I am such a sappy baby. But...in my defense, there is just something about a child turning 4. I think it is the end of baby/toddler hood and the beginning of childhood. It has been all I could do to look at him for the past several weeks without just breaking down. Even his looks have changed in the last month or so, he looks so grown up to me. My baby is growing up and I do not know if I am going to be able to handle it. So, if you see me on the street and it looks as if I am about to lose it, now you know why...because my baby turned 4!

Songs on the radio...

Songs on the radio, don't they just take you back to childhood sometimes? The other night, I volunteered in the nursery for one of the many wonderful Easter services at our church. We had been at the zoo all day so the kids were really tired, well...actually, so was I. Anyway...back on track now. I decided to leave everyone at home with Daddy, except for Tutti-Frutti, you know since Daddy cannot exactly feed him. After church was over, we met Daddy and the other kids for dinner at Chipotle. When we headed to the parking lot, Boog decided he wanted to ride with me and Tutti-Frutti so we were having a good ole time singing along to one of my favorite radio stations. I just love the 80's and it is a rare opportunity for me to actually get to listen to something I like when there are kids in the car. So...back to the story, once again. We were pulling into the neighborhood when Centerfold came on and I was singing along.

Boog shouted from the back, "Mommy, this is my favorite song, I love this song!"

Me: I like this song too. I used to roller skate to this song when I was a little girl. (Ok, so maybe not a little girl.)

Boog: When you were a little girl 'fore I was in your tummy?

Me: Yes.

Boog: Oh. Did Daddy used to roller coaster to this song when he was a little boy without holding on to those thangs?

Me: (stifling back the laughter) Oh, I don't know. You will have to ask him.

Boog: Oh, I used to ice skate to this song.

Welcome to my world! If you can't translate, you had better not visit. Kids are just too funny!

If only I could be...forever three.

Without a doubt, I have the sweetest, most wonderful 3 year old to ever exist. Seriously...just tonight we had this conversation.

We were discussing him getting to be a big boy. Of course I should mention I was singing the Barney song, "Growing...we do it every day. We're growing when we're sleeping, and even when we play. Each day we grow a little bigger, a little taller, not smaller..." you get the picture.

Me: Boog, you are getting to be a big boy.

Boog: I don't want to be a big boy. I don't want to grow taller and get big.

Me: Why not?

Boog: I want to be little, I don't want to get bigger. How can I stay little?

Me: I can put a brick on your head. Do you want me to do that?

Boog: What's a brick?

Me: It's like a rock, we could put it on your head to keep you from getting taller. Do you want me to do that?

Boog: No.

Me: You want me to put you in diapers and back in a baby bed?

Boog: No, not a baby. Little like I am.

Daddy: You want to stay 3?

Boog: Yes, I wanna stay tree.

Me: You have a birthday coming, you are going to be 4 years old! Do you want to have a birthday?

Boog: No.

Me: You don't want to have a birthday party?

Boog: No. (with tears in his eyes, about to cry.) I do not want to have a party. I wanna stay tree.

Me: What about Tutti-Frutti? You want him to stay little too or do you want him to get big?

Boog: I want him to stay little too. I want me and Tutti-Frutti to stay little.

Daddy: Why, so you can sleep with Mommy and Daddy forever?

Boog: Yes...how can we keep me and Tutti-Frutti little? How can I stay tree?

Now, if that is not the sweetest, most innocent thing you have ever heard...I had real tears people! Who would have thought Barney the purple dinosaur would have had us all in tears tonight?!? Don't you wish everyone loved you as much as your precious 3 (tree) year old baby boys? The world would be a much better place.

Happy Six Month

and a day... In your short time with us, we have discovered that we have way more love in our hearts than we could have ever imagined. We never doubted the fact we could love another child, but probably never imagined just how great it would be having another one to love. You are such a sweet blessing in our lives, now I cannot imagine that we ever lived without you. You are the sweetest most loving baby. You have quite the personality already. You love your big brothers and sister, and they love you. They cannot keep their hands off of you. You have recently discovered the poor helpless dog, I am afriad he might not have such loving feelings toward you...yet. You are our precious happy baby. You love your mommy and daddy too. You light up the room with smiles when we walk in.

I cannot belive that you have only been with us six months, it seems like a life time.

Your expressions bring such life and joy to our already happy home.

You are growing up so fast...

You love to laugh and smile...

but you can be so serious too.

You love to put everything in your mouth.

I think you are going to be a serious thinker...

You have recently discovered your feet and they are a source of entertainment for you.

Your hands are fun to chew on too, along with anyone else's you can get to.

We are truly blessed to have you as our precious baby son. We love you more than you will ever know. You have come so far...our beautiful little man.