The Baby's Growing Up

It's hard to imagine that when Lou and Ruckus were The Baby's age they already had a younger sibling. The Baby still seems so much... well, like a baby. 

Our little guy kind of got ripped off on his second birthday because we were traveling in the car to UT but we made up for it once we arrived.

We celebrated with cousins, aunts, uncles, and Grandma and Grandpa - 

he was spoiled beyond belief.

Blowing out candles on ice cream cake

Grandma helping The Baby 

Playful Toy Story book from Aunt Ruth and Uncle Dave

Amazing LEGO tractor from Grandma and Grandpa

Hugging his new treasure

The Baby picked out Boo from Monsters INC with the B-day money Buckabu and Papa mailed him.
So cute.

Dear Baby (for a little bit longer),

You couldn't be cuter.
You were born ready to be big - to be part of the group - to run with the boys.
And now your two year old body allows that a little more!
Whatever your brothers are doing - you believe you should be included in every moment.
And I admit, it can get boring inside with mom -but, you're an escape artist. 
If they're jumping on the trampoline, you will wait until I'm gone from the kitchen, go through the garage, out the back door where you proceed to pull a chair over to the tramp and climb on quickly before you get busted.
If they are riding bikes outside you quietly unlock the front door and grab your coaster, masterfully riding it down the sidewalk as quickly as your little legs will allow. 
You make really good time too.
Even if you have played, and played, and played... if you are missing out on one event - your heart is broken - and escape is necessary.
You love to clap.
After we sing - we must clap.
After you give a prayer - we clap.
You love music.
When we are riding in the car I can hear your sweet little voice singing along to the lyrics.
At Uncle Jordon's wedding you discovered your love to dance -  I think you danced the full hour, busting a move, loving life. 
You have pretty amazing rhythm for a two year old.
You share a room with Ruckus and if you aren't asleep by the time he comes in you torture him with your nonstop chatter. 
He'll scream, "The baby is making fun of me. He's being mean."
and you love every moment. Granted, Ruckus is a little sensitive when he's sleepy, but I kind of think you're really out to tease him.
You respond so happily  to his reaction.
You get this from your father. :)
You don't only tease your sibling closest in age, but you tease, Lou, Little C... and your sweet parents.
You love to pretend like you're a puppy or a horsey and chase us.
Your true favorite is bugs though - you must try to convince everyone that they have a bug crawling somewhere on their body.
Usually up their nose.
This trickery brings you great joy.
If one of your brothers is on the laptop you'll pull on their neck from behind and push them over while laughing hysterically, trying to catch them by surprise.
You act super tough, but if one of them retaliates you run to me and say, 
" (so and so) is being mean. (so and so) hurt me".
I give you kisses and you happily gallop away, off to find a new adventure.
You're vocabulary has grown drastically in the last month.
You'll tell me that you pooped and then say, ooow, gross.
The first thing on your mind when you wake up in the morning, after handing me your blanket out of the crib, is your stomach and you immediately say, "food". 
You then begin listing off the options  -
Poptarts,
granola bars,
cereal....
It's like your body is screaming - feed me anything woman! I am starving.
And boy you can eat. 
You out eat your brothers and possibly me.
Daddy usually helps you in this endeavor... because right now Daddy is your fave. Plus you LOVE eating off of his plate - everything seems to taste better to you when he can dish it from his side of the table. He loving puts up with it... and I think it's adorable.
You have such cute dainty eating habits too, not that your face isn't covered in food, but you use your utensils appropriately which makes your papa so proud.
You L.O.V.E. Papa and he's a sucker for you too. 
You refer to him as both Papa and Buckabu and the great thing is, he responds.
Buckabu adores you but also enjoys a laugh when most of the responsibility falls upon Papa at your request.
You love to sit on his lap, gripping his scout bear stuffed animal, while watching cartoons. You could sit there forever.
I've almost never seen you sit so still.
You love, love, love to give hugs and kisses.
You have the best pucker lips alive and you must mug on everyone before you go to bed.
You also must shut your own door at night and you have to say (by yourself... or all is lost) 
"on your marks, get set, gooooooo" and then you push the door closed triumphantly from your crib.
Then you say from your closed room,
"love you Mom"
"love you Dad"
usually your brothers get a shout out as well.
I've heard people in the past refer to "cuter than words" kids with statements such as this -
"You're so cute,  I could just eat you up"
or
"You're so adorable, I could just squeeze your cheeks off"
... and was a little disturbed by the violence inferred...
but you seriously are that cute.
And it's ALL declared in love my friend.
I get those statements now.
I could squeeze you forever because you melt my heart.
We're all smitten with you.
I am so glad and blessed to have you as my son.
I love you my sweet boy,
Mama