one-and-a-HALF!

Brooks, Brooksy-poo, Caboose, 'Boosey, my little blonde-headed, 26-pound nugget of pure joy:

You are one-and-a-HALF!

We all know I love to celebrate all the things, including half birthdays.  And I cannot believe we're already halfway to you being two.

You are a mess.

You are smart and silly, playful and sneaky, such a ham and such a heart-stealer.  And it's not just me who is wrapped around those sweet fingers - your big sister is smitten, as are all of the teachers at your school.  And pretty much anyone you come across as you smile and wave, "Hi!!!!!"

As for your big brother?  He prefers to clothesline you as he runs full-speed down the hallway.  I think in brother-land that's called love.

You like to make messes and throw your food across the room.  You prefer to tell other people "No!", but don't like to be told "no" yourself.

You have officially been introduced to the timeout corner, and I have a sneaking suspicion it'll become a regular place for you to occupy in the coming years.

You wake up before the sun even thinks about rising... so, so, so early.  It's like the minute your eyes open you think, YES!  IT'S TIME TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY!!

You love to nod "yes" and shake your head "no," and you're talking nonstop... a lot of words/sentences in, perhaps, your own language.  But so many other new words and I am just so proud.  It's more than I can count, but some of my favorites~ Bye!  Moxie; Outside; Water; Stuck!; Hi Sissy!; Cup; Ball; Stuck!; Sliiiiide; No!; Thank-you; Cracker; Uh oh!; Look!; Toe-toes.

But my most favorite?

LOLLY!!!

You are obsessed with lollipops.  You will sneak into the "childproofed" candy drawer, weasel your chubby little arm through the crack, and wrap those fingers around a lollipop, running across the room shouting LOLLY! so very proudly.

And usually I just let you have it, no matter if it's 6am, because you're so stinking cute and #pickyourbattles.

Your eye color still perplexes me -- are they brownish?  Greenish?  Are they both a different color?

And the blonde hair... oh that blonde hair!!

You love to play with a ball of any variety, love when everyone claps for you, and love to stomp and dance and jump and you can actually finally get some air!

You prefer to snuggle with and sleep on top of your blanket, you only swing your left arm when you're running, and you will eat just about anybody under the table.

Brooks, I've said it before and I'll say it again:  I believe with all of my heart that God was so very intentional when he gave me you.  You, my caboose, a baby when getting pregnant was supposed to be pretty much impossible.  A baby who was the reason I had to get out of bed for many, many months when I just wanted to stay hidden in my darkness.  A baby who has the most joyful, sunshine-filled soul.  A baby who quite possibly saved my life.

One day, you'll be old enough to understand it all.

But for now, I will snuggle you and give you your snacks and let you sneak LOLLIES! and  tickle your Flinstone-shaped feet and smooch the space between your neck and your shoulder until you giggle uncontrollably.

I love you enough, Brooks.  I love you SO big.

Happy one-and-a-HALF!

~Mama