Happy 2nd Birthday, Johnny!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, JOHNNY!

If ever there was a little rascal, it's you.

You certainly have thrown some differences our way after having three girls. You have such intense energy all of the time. You grab things with such force you knock them down. You don't hand us objects, you chuck them at our faces. You don't do these things out of anger, but simply because it's the only way you can manage to do things. 

Your obsession with cars came out of nowhere one day. But the second it appeared, there was no going back. "Tars!!" you yell, jumping up and down with excitement everywhere we go. Parking lots are especially exciting. You enjoy car cartoons but you are also completely enthralled with some boring car review video online. If we would allow you to sit in your dad's truck all day, your whole life would be made. 

You're quite a spoiled little thing, being the baby of the family and all, and especially since you have five older sisters to dote upon you. Well, except for Rose. She comes too close in taking the family "baby" title as well and some days you really have it out for her. 

And while you're happy and fun and SO goofy, you also have a stubbornness that is unmatched. One day it took an HOUR to get you to say "sorry" to your sister. You knew full well what was going on too, and you knew that you were refusing. See, RASCAL. 

You're not particularly daring and you have some caution and fears built into your system but yet that doesn't stop you from trying to do whatever it takes to be as tall as all the adults and older kids around you. Our kitchen stool is practically always in your hands, or you're climbing on something else- chairs, counters, whatever you can manage to get taller.  Tall enough to hit the light switches 539 times in a row. Tall enough to reach that knife and try and cut the strawberries, too. Tall enough to wiggle your way onto the kitchen counter so that you can stand up and swing the pendant lights back and forth...  

I have so many favorite things about you. I love how you jump up and down a million times when you're excited. I love that you love tubing on the boat. I love how much you talk. I love that super silly noise you make and then give me a mischievous look because you know it makes me laugh every time and tickle you under your chin. I love how excited you are to have friends play with you. I love how absolutely ecstatically thrilled you get when there's a car to ride in or play with. I love how well you still fit on my hip and want to be carried or at least hold my hand.

But above all I love when you still let me hold you at bed time to sing you our song "Godspeed little man, sweet dreams little man." I first heard that song when I was in high school and I memorized it and told myself I was going to sing it if I ever had a son. And now- here you are!

Then I lay you down and you fold your arms and pray for all your sisters. Then we laugh about the pictures of pizzas on your favorite blanket and you refuse to let me go until I have all your stuffed animals say "night night" to you in a silly voice. 

And while it can be so exhausting and wild to be your mom sometimes, it is also so tender and sweet. You are so loved and adored by your family! We love getting to know you more and more as you grow!

Happy Birthday Johnny Buck!

Exciting things Johnny got to do this past year of his life:

He:

Went swimming

Picked raspberries

Explored the mountains

Teeter tottered

Rode on a pony

Played at the beach

Touched the Pacific ocean

Went to Disneyland

Rode his first rides

Fed ducks

Learned to walk

Went to a funeral

Picked out a pumpkin at the patch

Dressed up as an alien for Halloween

Spent a whole week away from mom

Met Santa Clause

Got two new older sisters!

Went to the ice castles

Jumped at a trampoline park

 Kayaked

Boated

Sat on the tube on the back of the boat

Went through his first world pandemic

And earthquake

And fire evacuation 

Held a butterfly

Slept in a cabin

Went to Yellowstone National Park

Watched Old Faithful erupt

Saw bison

Held a sparkler

Watched fireworks

Went to Lagoon

Rode the kiddie rides

Happy Birthday Johnny! 

We love you more than you love cars! 

(and that's a lot!)