I know this gets my posts out of order, but today our baby boy turns TWO!!!! Two years ago today, we became a family of FIVE! We had no idea how much love and laughter and screaming and joy that he would add to our family! :)
This wild little man is loud and crazy, the exact opposite of his sister closest in age, but he adores both of them so much. He LOVES to play the King when they are playing princesses, and he LOVES to knock over Felcity's carefully built castles and dinosaur family groups. He's a wild one. He loves wrestling with Daddy and Avaree, but he's (slowly) learning to be soft with Mommy and sister. :)
To say that he is loved and adored is an understatement!
Except when he is sick, Brandt is still my best sleeper. He LOVES to take naps (and usually sleeps 1.5 to 2 hours). He has also been sleeping from 8 to 8 every night, and that has just been glorious. You see, he doesn't stop all day long, so he's just totally exhausted at the end of the day!
Speaking of being busy all day, Brandt LOVES to read (seriously--he loves books as much as his biggest sister, and he would be happy reading all. day. long.). He also loves big zoo animals (crocodiles, lions, giraffes) dinosaurs, tractors, puppies, and he would run and play outside all day if he could!
Besides being wild, Brandt LOVES to cuddle! He is definitely a physical touch kid. If I haven't been able to hold him for at least an hour in the morning, he acts extra fussy. He gives the best hugs, and he loves, loves, to sit in my lap. Sometimes he just wants to cuddle, sometimes he wants to watch one of his favorite shoes (Dinosaur Train, Paw Patrol, or The Wiggles--though that one usually makes him want to get up an dance), and sometimes he wants to read. He brings me at least 50 books per day, and often it's the same book over and over, which is so great for his brain! I'm so thankful that he loves to read! He also adores his Daddy. His favorite thing to do with Daddy is wrestle, ride the horsie, or fly! Besides his immediate family, Brandt most adores his grandparents, particularly Papa, G-Pops and Pop Pop! He loves his grandmothers, too, but he has a special bond with these men, and I love that! He's a man's little man! :) His very favorite thing is going to the zoo! You've never met a baby boy that loved animals more!
Brandt is so inquisitive!! At least twenty times a day, he says, "Mommy, wook!" :) He can count to 15 on his own, he knows most of his colors, he can sing the abcs, and he is mostly talking in phrases and sentences now! It's so fun to watch him grow up a little more every day, even if it hurts my heart just a bit. For example, Brandt has loved robots for a long time, and he always called them "bobots!" It was the cutest thing ever. Just a couple of weeks ago, Brandon and I both could have cried when he proudly exclaimed. "There a robot!" Heartbreak! :)
In terms of size, Brandt is a big little guy! He weighs 31 lbs, and he is soooo strong (he even gave his Daddy a concussion a couple of weeks ago!). He is still in size 4 or 5 diapers, and he wears 2T clothes! He has recently boycotted meals, but he will still eat peanut butter and jelly, chicken, grilled cheese, quesadillas, and any kind of fruit really well! His very favorite thing right now is pirates booty and raisins! He gets SO excited if he gets them! ha! He says, "Mama, booty? please?" It's so funny!
Happy 2nd birthday, Brandt Ryder Barton! I love that you love to hug me, and that you never want anyone to be sad. I love that you love life, and that you can sing along with just about every song we sing! I love to hear you sing "Jesus Loves Me," and I love watching you chase your sisters or play make believe with them! You are a treasure and a joy! I can't imagine how much more you will grow in the next year. We love our baby bear! What a gift you are to our family! We pray that you would grow to be a messenger of the sword, as your name implies!
We love you, monkey man!!!!!
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