Surprise!

Those were the words I had to tell my husband over 2 years ago, when I found out I was pregnant with Rutland. And boy has he lived up to the word! Rutland is the tiniest little package, but has so much energy, emotion, laughter, did I mention energy? I swear he has been in the same size diaper for a year and is not moving any time soon. He goes for his 2 year check up on Tuesday, but I know we still won't be on the growth chart for weight. He has had trouble with his ears and we have been in and out of Vestavia Peds one too many co-pays since January, so I know he only weighs about 22.5lbs. There are many 9 month olds (John Burke Henderson) we know who surpass him. But, don't think that bothers him one bit. He is disturbingly strong, tough, fast, and full of mischief. He can destroy my house in less than 15 minutes flat and still manage to flash a grin, give me a hug, and say "yuv you mamma" so that I'm so smitten I can hardly spank him. Which by the way does not bother him one bit. You can spank him all day long and he will whine one second and giggle at your frustration the next. It drives me nuts! Ask his teachers at school - I get a little mini report card everyday from his sweet teachers and on Friday it said "Rutland did not obey us today, but we love him anyway." And they told me every time they tried to talk to him or get him to do something he would run around the room trying to get them to chase him. He is a RASCAL! Because he's had so much trouble with his ears, we are now getting tubes put in at the first of March. Probably about a year too late. He's got fluid behind both ears and he didn't pass his hearing test, which means he can only hear muffled sounds. This has contributed to a speech delay, we think. Don't get me wrong, he talks all day long, but his sounds are not crisp so it makes it difficult to understand him. My mom says he sounds like the women at the nail salon, but we hope getting tubes put in and draining the fluid from his ears will help bring him up to speed in that department. (Like we need another talker in the house - Caroline still talks non-stop all day long, another reason her brother can't get a word in edgewise.) Rutland is such a monkey, diving off furniture, squeezing toothpaste all over his tummy, unwrapping all 8 paper towel rolls in my new pack, hiding socks in weird places, opening doors and wandering outside unsupervised, always getting into my make-up, pulling his sister's hair, spraying water from my squirt bottle everywhere, tinkling in the potty without my help!, and the list goes on. BUT, all that said, he is never too busy to say thank you (tank tu), I love you (yuv you), give me kisses or hugs, flash me a smile, show me his muscles, or make me laugh. For that little buddy, I love you too. He always brightens my day at some point and makes me laugh. He will probably be just like his daddy in that department. Happy Birthday baby boy!! You are my sunshine ;)

He loves to copy cat - especially with Papa and Daddy.

Trouble from day 1...

Started climbing 

Loves stuffing TP or anything other paper product (paper towles, magazines, tissues, etc) in the toilet

Loves being in the buff - tiniest buns I've ever seen!

WILD MAN at 1 

Oh so bald! Please note there is NO red hair on that head. Granted there is little hair at all...

Always willing to be dressed up

Stealing easter eggs when he thinks no one is looking...

Still climbing...

Showing his muscles - ughhhhhhhh!

Mommy, but I'm such an angel :)

Look at my boys! Rutland is wearing Christopher's little camel coat from when he was a boy. Rutland jumped all over the chance to wear it once he saw Christopher come in with his on for church. I think he looks like Paddington Bear - adorable!

He's a charmer!