Our little (I really mean massive) Squiggly turned 1 yesterday. I am so sad that I wasn't there to see him put his hands in his cake, reach over to let the dogs lick it off and put the left-overs in his mouth. For that is how you eat all your meals. Babies are gross, so why do I like him so much?
What a crazy life this little one has lived and what a crazy village is raising him. Adrian is a natural mother and her tender understanding of her little guy is apparent in everything she does for him and all she has sacrificed to care for him. They are such a sweet little couple.
Squiggly, here are some things I like about you:
-You are loud. That means you arrived in the right family and understand that animated vocalization is key to getting your way.
-You are squiggly. It makes me laugh and shows me what a terror I must have been to my parents.
-Your ridiculous teeth.
-You are no good at walking but that doesn't seem to bother you and gives us something to laugh about. If you are anything like your parents you will be good at everything in no time.
-That you love the outdoors. You are so sweet when the wind blows on you or you can see the trees moving. It is pure joy.
-You love the animals. The first time I fed you in your high chair, you cried until I moved it to where you could have one hand on the dog and one hand in the food. It still breaks my heart how sweet you are to them and how they respond in kind despite the pulling, slobber and hitting.
-You find strangers interesting and thereby disarm them.
-People think you might be mine. We are shaped more alike than you and your mom and the way I brag about and dote on you, it seems to fit (that is until they see Adrian's teeth).
-You are cool.
-You like musicals. West Side Story makes you so excited you barf and I somehow find that endearing. Your grandma is so proud!
-Pure, unfiltered emotion. And never from the middle of the spectrum, always exaggerated.
-You are ours. I know your mom thinks you are hers but really, you belong to a village of people. We think every step you take, banana you eat, scream you scream, open mouth kiss you give and laugh you laugh is a little miracle.
Happy Birthday, my little guy. So happy you joined the party!
P.S. You know I love you when I have more photos of you than I do of Kimball.
