Happy Birthday Brenden!!!

To my sweet, funny, most amazing first born little boy: 
I still cannot believe that you are 2 years old. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting on our porch at the house in Colorado, worried that you would never make your entrance into the world. Just 2 days later you arrived and our lives were forever changed.
                                                   Hello world!

You greeted the world with your eyes wide open, seeming to want to soak in the world that was so new to you. Your daddy was instantly crazy about you and you brought out a side of him I didn't know existed. Suddenly he knew how to change diapers, how to burp you, how to hold you without looking like he was afraid. He was instantly a "daddy" and he was, and still is, an amazing one.

Daddy and his mini-me.

Your grandparents were wrapped around your little finger from the moment they walked into the room. They ooohed and ahhhed and proclaimed you were the most perfect baby ever, which of course, you were. That first week it was hard to get a chance to hold you unless you were hungry.

Sweet, sleeping baby.

You were a very calm baby. You cried when you were dirty, hungry or tired and nothing more. Even when you started teething, the only symptom you had was drooling. Lots and lots of drooling. But oh my...did you eat. In the first few weeks you gained weight like a champ, going from long and skinny to covered in tons of chubby folds. I think half the weight went to your cheeks. People would stop us while we were out and most of their comments included "Those cheeks!"                     I don't think they could get any more pinchable!

The only thing you really hated was tummy time. You would scream and scream until we saved you. At every well baby check up we were scolded for not doing it enough, but I'm sure those doctors wouldn't have been able to let you be that upset for very long, either. That didn't stop you from hitting your milestones. You learned how to sit unsupported at 4 months. (Thanks for the help, Anthony!) You could stand, holding onto the couch, at 5 months. You rolled from your tummy to your back at 5 1/2 months. You pulled up at 8 months, a full month and a half before you began crawling, which was the only thing that took a little longer. Of course, at 23 lbs you had a LOT to move around. And then, the day of your 1st birthday party, 3 days before you turned 1, you started walking and never looked back.

I didn't realize how much I liked that outfit! :)

Watch me go!

The most amazing and funny thing about you is your personality. You have never met a stranger and have no problems walking up to anyone, young or old, and saying "hi!" You have been handed cell phones and lap tops by people who could not resist your charm. Women will stop us in a store, even follow us from the parking lot, to tell us how cute you are. Men have stopped, especially when you were a baby, amazed at how big you were. "He'll be a linebacker for sure!"

They may not be completely off. You are crazy about all sports. Football, golf, baseball, tennis...you love them all. You have a set of mini golf clubs and can already swing better than I can. One look at your baseball tee and you knew what to do. "Down, set, hut!" is one of your favorite games. You are going to be an honor roll jock! :)

Batter up!

Your intelligence amazes us every day. We only have to show you how to do something once and you will always remember it. You refused to use a spoon or fork until you figured out how to hold it like an adult, which only took a few tries. You picked up on baby sign language very quickly and by 9 months you could sign AND say "more," "please," and "thank you." At 2 years old you know several words, phrases, shapes, letters, and numbers. You enjoy reading and get so excited when you learn something new and we cheer for you.

:)

You have more love to give in your tiny little body than I ever thought was possible. You have love not just for your family, but for our friends, random people in the Walmart check out line, blonde haired little girls, and any and all animals. Most especially our dogs, Romeo and Riley, although I'm pretty sure Riley is your favorite. You actually learned to say "Riley" long before you learned to say many other words.

You and your Riley.

Every day I am so thankful to have you in my life. You are constantly making me laugh. You are constantly making me proud. To say I am lucky to be your mommy would be an understatement. My entire world would not be complete without you.

My favorite little man.

I love you so much and I am looking forward to every new skill, smile and achievement in the years to come. Thank you for being my wonderful little boy.

Love, Mommy