Dooby-Dooby-Doo... where are you? We couldn't have a family without ya!

In case you think that my title is strange... that's what we sing to Declan to the tune of the scooby-doo theme.

Declan, Deck, Decky, Decky-do, Decker, Bro-bro... this post is all for you little buddy.

Oh Declan. Where to start?  You are weeks away from turning three. The most stubborn kid I know.  We like to call you 'independent' instead of defiant. :) You are unlike Cash in so many ways. Dad and I have predicted that you will always do things the hard way. You will always want to find out for yourself. And you will probably always think that you know more than Mom or Dad.

You are so sweet.  Such a loving child.  Although you don't like to snuggle as much as Cash, you will still pretend to be my baby once in a while.  You love to read, which is Mom's secret way to get you to snuggle more.  And you give the biggest squeezes and multiple kisses when I'm tucking you in. Then you request that I sing you skidamarinkydink and happy birthday every night.  Sometimes you ask for me to drop your animals from high up so you can catch them. Then you and your brother blow out the light like a birthday candle.

Whereas Cash is much more like me, you are so much like Dad. Less emotional. A little more serious most of the time. But, like Dad, when you are goofy... you are full-on goof.  You try to negotiate. A lot. And sometimes it works because you are so stinkin cute when you do it.

Your favorite snack hands-down is Cheez-its. We have to buy the Declan-size box (the family size) and it is your most requested snack. You are a chugger when it comes to anything liquid. This comes from Dad.

We are trying desperately to potty-train you. But in true Declan (and two-year-old) style, you only want to do it when YOU want to do it. I'm clinging to the fact that we still have 6 weeks until you are three. And three is the goal.  That will be $85 more a month that we can spend on Cheez-its. How can I make you understand that?? :)

When I asked you what you wanted for your birthday you told me a black balloon and a purple balloon... and the black balloon was for Ari (from daycare).  You love the entire wall of Hot Wheels wall-tracks that you've accumulated from Christmas. And you (like your brother) love anything electronic. You are great at the Mobi-go, and at the iPad (except you keep locking Dad's iPad because it has a code on it now!).

You love to take your shoes off in the car. You and Cashy LOVE to visit your grandma Ellen. You want to play on the iPad all the time. You love coming to the 'exercise toys' (where you can play while Mom and Dad work out). 

Decky. Mommy and Daddy and Bro-bro love you so much.  Our famly would not be complete without you.   When you aren't listening, and I tell you that Cashy and I are going to the store without you, Cash begs for me not to leave you behind.   That usually gets you to make better decisions... but not always. You are your own little person, and we are proud of you. I love you Decky-do.



Just a snapshot for each of my loves.

Hi boys. The only reason I'm writing this is because Aunt Katie is always guilting me into writing more.  Well, that's not entirely true... I WANT to do this, but either don't have make the time, or I just forget... because I don't do it often enough.

I don't want to forget all your goofy little things that you do and say.  And I want you to know how each of you were at this age.

Cashy-mashy, Cash-man, Bro-bro, Casher, Moopy (mom's nickname for you), Buddy (dad's nickname for you)

You are one silly boy.  And you are so much like Mommy.  Emotional, but overall a very happy child. You love to make people laugh by telling pirate jokes... or any kind of jokes  (your most recent: What did one snowman say to the other? Do you smell carrots?). You love to tease, especially if Mom asks you to do one thing... you pretend to do quite another, with a poop-eating grin on your face.

Although your personality is so much like Mommy, you want so desperately to be like your dad. And you actually look exactly like your Daddy did when he was your age. When you grow up you want to fix computers like you think Daddy does (it's a little more complicated than that...). You want to build things with Dad. And every Sunday morning you insist on making breakfast for Mommy while she sleeps in (cooking with Dad might be your favorite). Mom likes this one a lot. :)

Every time I ask you what you want Mom to make for dinner you request spaghetti.  You've recently gotten into burgers and insist, when ordering, on saying that you'd like a hamburger with no cheese, with ketchup, pickles, lettuce, patty, and the bun. You usually eat all your food, and the only thing you really don't care for are tomatoes (especially if they are spicy) and grilled cheese.

We took you to the movies to see Hotel Transylvania yesterday with your brother, and you were only 20 minutes into when you said, "Let's watch this movie again!"  You ate so much popcorn that you actually told me you ate too much, and drank about a half-dozen sips of Mom's Dr. Pepper, which you think is fabulous (because it is fabulous) but especially since you only get sips of pop at the movies.

Right now you love your EP Ellie (how you came up with this name, I have no idea) that I bought you when I was in Florida visiting Aunt Katie. At night you are listening to the silly songs CD on your new CD player, and then you also make me play the Christmas music from the musical wind-up snowman thingy (which I had packed away with the Christmas decorations, but you cried until I got it out again).

You are so smart, Cash. You could teach Grandma a few things about the iPad, that's for sure. You pick up games like Plants vs. Zombies, Dad's racing motorcycle game, and blow any kid's games out of the water. You still love Caillou (but are thankfully growing out of that) and are getting more enthralled with Phinneus and Ferb, The Fairly Odd-Parents, and to Dad's happiness... the old Spiderman cartoons.

By the way, you are four and half now.  We are looking into pre-school for you in the fall with mixed emotions. Sad to leave Miss Andrea, but so excited (and Mom is secretly terrified) for you to start 'real' school.  Dad thinks you are going to test out of pre-school and walk right into Kindergarten, but I'm not sure you'd be emotionally ready for first grade the following year.  But there is no doubt that you are the smartest 4 year old I know. You know all your letters, numbers (although you keep forgetting to count 14...), and have now memorized my favorite song - I want a hippopotamus for Christmas.

I love you so much I feel I might explode sometimes, and I sometimes watch you when you sleep, or snuggle in bed with you and play with your hair while you are snoozing away.  Re-reading this, it sounds super creepy, but it's a mom's right. And I know that I'm on borrowed time. There are so many more things, and hopefully it won't be so long before my next post.  

Ok, this one turned in to a super-long post.... I'll give Declan his own. :) I love you, Moopy.