This is my baby. Four years ago, I had a 2:30pm appointment to have this baby. My previous baby, who ended up only weighing 6 lb. 13 oz., would not come out the traditional way, despite 18 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing. My doctor was all for trying a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarian – sorry guys) but a late term ultrasound showed that baby #2 was going to be bigger than baby #1. And so, I made an appointment to have a baby. Who, by the way, ended up weighing 7 lb. 12 oz.
With a planned c-section, they want you to deliver at around 39 weeks to avoid going in to labor (which would just complicate things). My due date fell on a Saturday so my doctor gave me a choice. Did I want to have a baby on February 2nd or February 5th? What a weird thing to decide. Randy and I like even numbers better than odd (which is odd, I know) so we settled on the 2nd. And besides – it’s Groundhog Day!
So my little, or not-so-little, groundhog. Who are you at four? You have some of the same traits you did at three. Still obsessed with vehicles, especially garbage trucks. Still very independent with a mind of your own. Still so big but more tall than stocky these days. Your hair is less blond (sob!), your belly is a little flatter (sob!), you are potty trained (yay!) and sleeping in a big boy bed (yay!). We still have a nightly bedtime conversation, but now you always want to talk about birthdays. We have to start with Thanksgiving, then move through Graham’s birthday and everyone else in our family until we get to yours. You share your bed with tiger, doggie, giraffe, and blanket – incredibly imaginative names, I know. After the birthday ritual, you want me to “sweep” with you. (Your “l’s” are still “w’s”). I lay next to you and your put your face right up next to mine. Your big beautiful eyes with their impossibly long lashes so close I can’t really see them. Breathing softly onto my face. How is your breath so sweet?
Your facility with language and ability to process complex concepts is astounding to us. You ask soulful questions and tell long-winded stories with lots of “and then”. Truthfully, sometimes I zone out while you are talking so I don’t always hear what you say, but I am deeply soothed and satisfied by the sound of your surprisingly high-pitched (for such a big guy) and raspy voice. There are very few words that you say incorrectly anymore. Instructions are constructions and umbrella is umbabrella. Currently you want to marry Stella, a former preschool classmate. Why? Because “she has a headband.” And you never answer just yes. It’s “I sure do” or “I sure will”. You are incredibly bright and funny.
I have a million nicknames for you. Pooky, pickle, noodle, noodley pants, lovey bug, cute face, sweet sweet, yummy yum yum, and my favorite – 2T. I started calling you that when you were just a year and fitting into 2T clothes. Now you are four and fitting into 5T.
Recently you asked me, “When Graham and me are grown ups, who are our kids going to be?” How do you answer a question like that? You also asked me whether or not your legs came off. When I told you no and why were you asking, you said, “Well then how did they make me? Who made me? You and Daddy? How did you make me?” I don’t think you are quite ready for that answer yet.
You might be this guy now.
But you used to be this guy.
And this guy. Happy birthday my sweet.
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he is working that gold chain isn’t he?
love it.
happy birthday to him!
too stinking cute!
Comment by vanillasugarblog — February 2, 2011 @ 8:53 pm
A very beautiful post for a very beautiful boy. Congratulations to you, you did really well.
Comment by Adele — February 2, 2011 @ 8:55 pm
Oh, we LOVE that boy. And we need to see you soon. Happy Birthday!
(And I just know that Lucy will be four in about 12 seconds. sigh.)
Comment by shauna — February 2, 2011 @ 9:49 pm
Wow, Spencer is looking so much like Graham these days! Pretty soon they’ll be twins :) I’m laughing really hard at “Do my legs come off?” Happy Birthday to him!
Comment by Ele — February 2, 2011 @ 10:37 pm
Oh, Dana…this is SUCH a sweet post. Happy Birthday to your baby boy. May his day be filled with endless garbage trucks and kisses from Stella! :) xo.
Comment by g. — February 2, 2011 @ 11:50 pm
He is so stinking cute! Happy, happy birthday Spencer!!!
Comment by Kristina — February 3, 2011 @ 12:00 am
Happy happy birthday to Spencer! He really has grown up so much Dana, but don’t worry, he’s still got a lot to go. I loved reading this post…I don’t know Spencer in real life but in knowing you and hearing all these stories about him and graham, I feel like I do. I’m sure you made his birthday magical. :)
Comment by Joanne — February 3, 2011 @ 12:38 am
Groundhog day–what a great day for a birthday! He’s a cutie. Hope his birthday is as fun as can be.
Comment by lisaiscooking — February 3, 2011 @ 12:45 am
Loveliness, all of it.
I hope you print out this post and tuck it in the pages of his baby book.
Comment by cheryl — February 3, 2011 @ 12:56 am
What a wonderful post, Happy Birthday Spencer! (I like even numbers too!)
Comment by Kirsten — February 3, 2011 @ 1:46 am
What a lovely, sweet post. He is too cute!
Comment by Nina — February 3, 2011 @ 2:39 am
a funny concept, making an appointment to have a baby. :) but what a heartfelt super sweet post!! As was said above, this is one to keep for him (and you) to read later. Happy Birthday to Spencer!
Comment by elizabeth @ sophisticated pie — February 3, 2011 @ 3:03 am
Oh, give Spencer a big birthday kiss! I love that he wants to know who his kids are gonna be. Sweet!!
Comment by Chez Us — February 3, 2011 @ 3:43 am
A perfectly beautiful blog entry for his birthday. May he always be aware of his mother’s unconditional love. :)
Comment by Linda — February 3, 2011 @ 4:05 am
I love this post – Happy Birthday Spencer! I can’t believe how similar both of our deliveries were! :)
Comment by Lindsey — February 3, 2011 @ 4:09 am
Aw. Makes me want to go wake up my two little boys and kiss them. (9 months and 2 years.)Time passes so quickly.
Comment by Anna — February 3, 2011 @ 5:15 am
Awww. Such a cutie. And I adore the “pink one” shirt – what my 5 year old calls a penquin…Happy Birthday Spencer!
Comment by Charlotte — February 3, 2011 @ 5:43 am
OHHH, I loved reading this. Love that funny, friendly little big guy!
Comment by Julie — February 3, 2011 @ 6:43 am
Ah ha ha! LOVE that last pic. Really cheered me up. You have a beautiful son there Dana.
Robyn x
Comment by Koek! — February 3, 2011 @ 8:02 am
Your son looks like a doll-baby, I’d practically babysit him for the pleasure of his company. =)
Comment by Kellye — February 3, 2011 @ 1:05 pm
Happy birthday, Spencer! Perhaps we need to revisit the photo with the really, really, REALLY fat legs sometime (I think he was sitting in a Bumbo?). That was truly a classic!
Comment by Hilary — February 3, 2011 @ 1:53 pm
My little boy turns 4 this Sunday, February 6. Also born by c-section and weighted 7 lbs 12 ozs. Many of the same things you say have been going through my head. My favorite comment of his this week was: “mommy, the graham crackers are in charge of their own crumbs!” Oh and that sweet, sweet breath. .. couldn’t agree more. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Katherine Deumling — February 3, 2011 @ 8:08 pm
What a love bug and such a nice post that future birthday boy will treasure. Happy Birthday to your darling!
Comment by Emily — February 3, 2011 @ 10:49 pm
Aw, what a big kid! Happy birthday Spencer!
Comment by Sage — February 4, 2011 @ 5:27 am
Love this! Such a sweet post. Happy birthday to your little (big) guy!
Comment by fresh365 — February 4, 2011 @ 3:46 pm
oh my how sweet. It makes me want a little boy and i am NOT ready for a little boy. SO precious and tender hearted. He is so lucky you will have these posts to show him years from now. happy bday big guy!
Comment by Sara — February 4, 2011 @ 8:12 pm
I love this!!! Thank you for sharing
Comment by Steph Cross — February 6, 2011 @ 2:46 am
I laughed out loud at “because she has a headband.” Happy birthday Spencer!
Comment by Maris (In Good Taste) — February 7, 2011 @ 6:15 pm