Here's a picture of my little man 2 years ago today:
What a doll. From the start he was an easy baby...arrived right on his due date with an easy and drama free labor. He had an easygoing personality, he rarely cried and was a better sleeper than his brother. Everything just seemed EASIER. Maybe it was because he was my second, but I'm pretty sure that he had something to do with that. For instance, I could actually SIT DOWN with Deacon sleeping in my arms instead of having to be constantly moving or bouncing on the birth ball (like some other baby I know).
Here he was last year on his birthday, YUM cake!:
Over this past year Deacon has come into his own. I joke that just as Cade is "revving down" Deacon is "revving up." He's become quite the spitfire, much so that he's gotten the nickname, "Fudge" a character from our favorite Judy Blume series. These days he's running around the house completely naked, throwing food (or smearing ice cream on my kitchen cabinets), knocking over his brother's buildings, chasing the dog...all the while laughing his head off. He's still easier than Cade in many ways. He doesn't let things bother him. If he falls and is bleeding all he needs is a kiss and he's off again. If he's angry or upset it lasts all of a couple of seconds, nothing that a little hug can't solve. He's really good at going with the flow and isn't bothered by the lack of "schedule" that we currently follow.
Deacon is a talker. He's starting to form sentances and is *generally* able to get across what he needs to communicate. Sometimes when I can't figure out what he's trying to say he'll go, "Cade, blahblahblah" and Cade ALWAYS figures out what the heck he's saying. It's pretty cute that they can communicate that way. He's really good at puzzles and manipulating small objects. He's also very coordinated like his brother and attempts many of the same gymnastic stunts that his brother is doing. Over all, he thinks he's 5, and would rather play with the kindergartners than 2 year olds.
Deacon likes to draw and paint. He also LOVES to read. At night we read book after book, "Mommy, another book." I have to stop when we get to 7 or 8 and I lure him with "lights off" with a back scratch or song. He sleeps in his brother's room on the bottom bunk and they really like sharing a room together. Deacon still doesn't consistantly sleep through the night but when he wakes he doesn't cry, he just runs into my room, "mommy?" (generally around 1am). We walk back to his room together, lay down (I attempt not to fall asleep, that doesn't always happen) and he goes back to sleep quickly.
He is working on his potty training and can pretty consistantly pee in the potty (if not wearing a diaper). He loves to strut around the house in his underwear. He *may* be trained this summer before the baby comes, but we're not pushing it. Right now the potty is just another fun activity.
Finally, he's a bit of a class clown. If we're sitting quietly around the table eating dinner you'll hear, "Cade, POOP!" or "Cade, PEEPEE Diaper!" and the table will erupt in boy laughter.
