BRODY

I had a strange moment the night before Brody's 1st birthday. I was putting him to sleep and was overwhelmed with the knowledge that the next time I held him, he wouldn't be a baby anymore. I know some people consider their baby to be a "toddler" when they start walking, but Brody started walking at 10 months and I wasn't ready to let him be a "toddler" yet. I'm still not. When Brynlee turned one, I was 2 months away from having another baby, so at the time I didn't feel like she was the "baby". Anyway, it's been a surprisingly hard transition for me...

Our Mr. Brody is so full of spunk! Here are 10 of our favorite Brody things:

1. He's all boy. I remember once a lady at Costco walked up to us when I was holding Brody. She just saw him from the back and immediately said, "Well there's a football player if I ever saw one. He's ALL boy!" Riley beamed with joy the rest of the day.

2. He's a kid on a mission. And that mission is to destroy anything and everything that mom has just put away.

3. He has 5 teeth. That's right. 5. We're not sure where the other one is (the 6th that would make his mouth even)... it's been missing for a while now.

4. He never responds to his name. Ever. ... at least not when Riley & I call him. And it's not because he doesn't know his name. He'll listen to Bryn the first time she says his name. One year old and is the most stubborn kid on the planet.

5. His favorite activity is to throw a ball (or anything even remotely ball-shaped) and chase after it. Repeatedly. throw. chase. throw. chase... all day long.

6. He refuses to say "mom/mama". Pretty sure he thinks it's funny. I tell him all the time to "say mama". Then Brynlee chimes in "say Bryn-Bryn". He'll probably say her name before mine. Punk.

7. Brody has a permanent bruise on his forehead. (No, not that blue vein on the top of his nose... although that looks like a bruise too). He's just always falling off things, running into things, tripping over things... It makes him look really tough!

8. Oh he folds his arms so well whenever we say a prayer. It's the most precious sight in the world.

9. Brody lets Brynlee do pretty much whatever she wants to him. He's a trooper. He gets squished, pushed, poked, and yelled at. But they're still best friends. (But don't think he doesn't do his share of biting and hitting. We're working on being "soft".)

10. Brody gives the best kisses. When he's really in the mood you might get 5 or 6 before he's done. On the cheek is best... unless it turns into a bite. Which happens quite often.

We love our Brodes. His birthday makes me think back to when we first found out I was pregnant with him. I remember crying. Now I can't imagine him coming into our family at any other time. We love him. We can't get enough of him. And man, oh man, is he cute!

Some pics from his birthday party last week:

Notice the missing tooth:

HATES shoes... these are his first pair (I know, what kind of horrible mother lets her kid walk around for 2 months without shoes?!) and he can't wait to get them off!