My Birthday Boy

Where did my baby go?  He’s a young man with blonde peach fuzz, a winning smile, and cheeks so deliciously squishy I can get lost in them.  He steals my heart every time he grins, which is often.  He has an infectious belly laugh, deep brown eyes that take in everything his siblings are doing (for better and for worse), and a gait that grows increasingly steady as he toddles around with his belly leading the way.  He loves to throw a ball, loves to play with trucks, loves to eat, loves to cuddle, loves to wave and clap, loves to fall asleep in his own bed, loves to have someone sing to him, loves to roll around on fluffy carpet, loves to put toys into and out of buckets, and loves to be outside.  He doesn’t like books yet, he doesn’t like to be put down when he’s feeling cuddly or clingy, doesn’t like to get dressed, doesn’t like to be left alone, and doesn’t like dessert to end (who does?).  He has 8 going on 11 teeth (he’s currently cutting three molars, poor kid!).  He drinks formula from a bottle three times a day after deciding he was done nursing about a month ago.  He takes a morning nap lasting around 1-2 hours and an afternoon nap lasting 1.5-2 hours and sleeps all night (usually).  His wake-up time is still a bit erratic, but usually falls between 6:30 and 7:30. We haven’t yet figured out whether he’s going to be a crazy, free-wheeling boy like his brother, or whether he’ll be more laid-back and easy-going.  He shows signs of both, so we’ll see this time next year what kind of a boy we have on our hands.  We’re so incredibly grateful for him and the joy he daily brings into our lives!