A Decade

Dear Chunky, I can't believe my ten pound baby is ten years old today! How did a whole decade go by already? You are my super-spirited only son. One-third of the great loves of my life (Daddy and Sassy of course being the other two). I think you were the most wished-for baby ever. We had given up trying after years of infertility and a miscarriage. In a last ditch effort, I tried acupuncture, herbs and the Atkins diet all in the month of February 1999 - voila, nine months later a little toeheaded miracle entered our lives! You were a big, happy baby like Sassy, but unlike Sassy you were VERY cuddly. I wanted to drink in every part of you - your smell, your soft skin, the sweet little sounds you made. You outgrew the bassinet I kept by our bedside within two weeks. Like Sassy, you slept through the night at 5 weeks and if you didn't get your naps in there was heck to pay for all. You could sleep anywhere and we brought you everywhere. You were quite a load to carry though. You started walking at 10 months and never looked back.


Dressing up is one of your favorite activies. Sassy had a large basket of playclothes in her room and you were always rummaging in there. I bought you capes, pjs and costumes to keep you supplied with fresh material. One of my favorite photos of you is in batman pjs with a bow & arrow. Another is a lion costume with snorkel gear. And who doesn't love a penguin? You've always had a strong creative side. You LOVE going to the Children's Theater with Grandma G and I can definitely see you being an actor someday.


Dad is your favorite person. Papa and both Grandmas are close seconds.


You are currently in a love-hate phase of your sibling relationship with Sassy. You always wanted to sleep in her room when you were younger and we had to bribe you to start sleeping in your own bed at age three. You two have always protected one another and I hope that will continue your whole lives. I'll never forget the time we were discussing Sassy eventually going to college at the dinner table - you were about four or five. You started silently crying and when we asked why, you said you never wanted Sassy to leave. At another dinner conversation Sassy was describing something funny she'd done that day and your Dad and I called her a dork. With fierce defensiveness you exclaimed, "she's not a dork, she's beautiful!".


Your favorite non-human is Maddie Rose. You were two years old when she became part of our family and the two of you have been joined at the hip ever since. Maddie follows you wherever you go and sleeps in your bed every night.

You love nature and being outdoors - water, trees, hills, valleys, flowers and yes, even butterflies :) Your favorite foods are chocolate milk, noodles, anything cinnamon, pears and apples. You have an abundance of energy, are extremely bright and inquisitive. You are loyal and a quick, but deep thinker. You like tv (too much), basketball, math, science and reading a good book series (currently Fablehaven and Diary of a Wimpy Kid). Though we've had our battles of will, challenges with boundaries and constantly need to work on focusing your energy, we love you just the way you are.

HAPPY 1oth BIRTHDAY CHUNKY MONKEY!!!