1-11

Leo's first and Jbird's 11th are only 2 weeks apart (with Easter sandwiched in between this year) so we celebrated together! Kicking off the carnival theme party year! Never enough pictures to capture all of the memories made at the birthdays...

The honorees!

Campbell and his idol, Jake (age 10)

Auntie Juya and baby Parker

Hazel!

Emma, Frenchie, Kaia, Bird and Ashley.. the ladies.

Cousins and cousins..

Easter kick-off in Hanover

neighborhood egg-hunt with all of the friends.. these kids are so lucky to have someone of each of their ages on the block

afterschool...

typical afternoon on the street

Easter at the Village Preschool

Although he passed on making bunny ears (he said he already had some at home.. which he did... but come ON, Bud), the egg hunt was super cute at C's preschool... and Leo got to hang out for circle time.

Oh Leo, the celebrating continued all spring...

March 28th in the rear view...

Birthday treats

Campbell coerced me into staying home from school so he could be with Leo on his "real" birthday... and he was determined that he would learn to walk on this day... first things first, he needed a cake (cupcakes) from VGs.

ONE

Dear Leo,

How did a year pass us by so quickly? We have had probably 24 hours of sleep all year, so I will do my best to recall all of your sweetness and stats to date.. as I slack on printing pictures for your grandparents, filling your baby book and keeping up with all of the things I am supposed to do. You are by and large a jolly fellow.. always smiling for the ladies and getting free samples and balloons at the groceries.. the John Hamm of babies, some might say. You are a busy guy, and if the front or back door are left open, you are sure to escape. A fast crawler and almost-walker, you love the outdoors and following your brother and sister. You're a little chihuahua.. thinking you're a big dog, ready to ride a bike or play basketball. And speaking of dogs, you love them..not afraid at all.. night and day from your brother (and me).

You yell for Campbell and Jadyn calling them both "Bra-brah" at the top of your lungs... and only say "Ma-ma" meaning MORE... food.... I will make it what I wish, I guess..

Your laugh makes us all crack up. Tickling your chin or your bowl-full-of-jelly belly is hillarious.. but Campbell can make you laugh just by being himself and doing little shows for you or whatever boy thing he is doing.

You weigh 23 lbs, have barely two teeth, and, as mentioned, you have had constant ear infections this fall and winter, which, I suppose can be the scapegoat for your middle of the night wake-ups... I just think you were born wanting to party all night. I'm blaming the Chris Farley manner in which I ate when pregnant. rad... I know, I know, it's fleeting.. and having you fall asleep on me won't happen for very much longer.... and I appreciate your warmth and soft little dimpled baby fingers.. and those cankles... kill. me.

When I look at you today, I remember the day you were born being scared... looking at Campbell thinking he was such a little baby, how could I love another little person so much? So crazy how love multiplies... no one, no feeling is replaced, it just grows and adds and we literally never knew life without you.

When you look at these less-than-stellar photos, please do not think it had anything to do with your awesome outfit.. you loved rocking the vintage sweater suit, even transitioned to the short sleeve polo sweater mid-day when the temps warmed up. You're growing up so fast.. gotta squeeze you in some more outfits before you're a picky man like your brother. Happy big birthday, son.

xxoo