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

Leprechaun on Leeward

Campbell had worked on a leprechaun trap all week... hoping to catch one when they were around on St. Patty's weekend. He brought it to share at school and missed the little devil when he splattered green footprints all over the Yellow room and left gold and glitter all over... so he set it out on the eve of St. Pats day.. and awoke to a rainbow strung all over the trees out front, all through the house, all the way to the backyard where the leprechaun must have jumped the fence and hitched Amtrak back to Ireland (?)... gold and green treats were left and to Campbell's shock and amazement, he broke out of the trap... almost caught one!

A winning season for Irish soccer

J loved playing soccer again this year.. not sure if she originally realized how stressful goalie would be, but she did awesome... with a great group of St. Pat's 5th graders. Go, Irish!

Eleven months old... same outfit, don't be fooled

there he was!



finger in the constant ear infection ear... cannot quite capture the standing alone situation on film...

Boys

and he was 10 months...

That face. Just like his big brother, Leo grew tired of eating baby food even with no teeth and only wants real food... he really misses the buttery, creamy Nana B food that he got to eat while on her lap instead of his (babysitter) high chair at home.