One Rad Dude

Chilly, you're rounding the bend toward 17 months and I thought an update on your little life was in order.

You have changed so much in the last few months. You eat everything in sight. Every time we pick you up from the nursery at church, the sweet volunteers shake their heads and proceed with a [lengthy] list of all the snacks you enjoyed while we were in the service. After polishing off what Mommy has packed for you, you apparently make the rounds to all your little buddies and have some of theirs too.

You're the baby of our little family, but you don't seem to realize this. You wholeheartedly believe you should be doing whatever your eight and nearly six-year-old siblings are doing. Last week as we enjoyed an unseasonably warm afternoon, you awoke from your nap to discover that Chloe, Sam, and Max were playing outside while you were, in fact, inside. You marched over to the open window, hoisted your little self up, took in the scene at the swingset, and then turned to me as if to say, "Oh no you didn't!"

You squawked at the window until your siblings heard you and came running inside for a greeting.

You are so loved by them.

You have a few new pastimes that keep you busy...

Your current favorite is to travel throughout the upstairs bedrooms, dragging all manner of pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals off the beds and down the hall. I watched you the other day and must say, I was quite impressed with your determination. After you drag each one down the hall, you proceed to throw it down to the bottom of the stairs. Then you race down feet first on your tummy and play in the pile.

You are super pleased with yourself, and I admire your ingenuity, if not your devotion to keeping our home neat.

You've got a sweet new ride, and you enjoyed your daily spins in it very much while the weather was warm. We're thinking of cleaning it up a bit and bringing it into the basement this winter because you miss it so.

We still call you Chilly - I think we always will - but you've got some spice too, buddy. Lately Daddy and I will watch you kicking a little ball around the kitchen or racing to keep up with one of your Bro's and say, "Wow, he's one rad dude." With your spunky determination, sweet little spirit, and wild mullet of blond curls, it's just the perfect description for you right now.

You're a good boy, Charlie Smith. We love you so.