Festive Flashback Friday

We have come leaps and bounds (no pun intended) from these feeble feet....

to this frequent footwear....

And, have come a far cry (once again no pun intended) from this fragile FOUR pounds FOUR ounces....

to this fabulous FOUR year old....

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Buck-a-roo, Happy Birthday to you!!!!

Dear Buck-a-roo,

Your dad and I remember the day like it was yesterday. It was a Sunday and we had just put a frozen pizza in the oven for lunch. I went to the bathroom and my water broke, only minutes after Maw-Maw had just left our house headed home following her visit for the weekend to attend my baby shower. You were due on April 30 and despite a long 10+ week battle in and out of the hospital, 45+ visits to the OB emergency room, 2 amniocentesis, constant contractions for 8+ weeks and numerous medications to halt my preterm labor....today would be the big day!!!!

We arrived at the hospital around 1:00 pm and you were born in the OR shortly after 8:00 pm and our world would forever be changed in the most magnificent way. Following 14 days in the NICU to allow you time to learn how to feed and continue to grow....you came home with us weighing 3 pounds 9 ounces and haven't stopped bringing joy to our lives ever since.

Today you are an excellent big brother and a super well-mannered boy. You weigh 38 pounds and are 44 inches tall. You consume more chocolate milk than you probably should and are the ultimate picky eater. You color in the lines beautifully and have just begun to ride your bicycle without the assistance of training wheels. You adore music, musical instruments, and dancing. You know how to snap your fingers, wink on command, and try your darndest to whistle all the time. You prefer to dress like a "little man" on a daily basis, button-down shirts, collared polo shirts, blue jeans, or "striped" pants (corduroy). You choose to wear boots for footwear daily, work boots, rain boots, cowboy boots; you have 'em all. You can count to 30, spell Z-O-O, write your name, and recite your weekly Bible verses with ease. You are definitely a people-pleaser, enjoy affection and still, four years later, make us smile until our face hurts every single day!!!!

We love you and I mean it....no more birthdays after FOUR!!!!

Love,

Daddy and Mommy