taco

"taco" was jacob's name for charlie. we called him "chuckles" when we brought him home, and 13 month old jacob couldn't quite pronounce it. charlie has since christened himself "chuckle cat" and has been meowing and licking us for over a year now. on tuesday he turned 3. 3! i still remember all too vividly pushing his big head out - sans epidural. he was (and still is) a big boy. 9'13" with a head and chest circumference of 24 inches. he is the only one of the brood that looks like me. so for his birthday he requested a "motorcycle" party. i attempted a cake. it looked so easy online. all i can say is i am grateful for chocolate cake that blended in with the green frosting on the track. it gave it an authentic rugged look - or so i tell myself. we took him to ryan's parents house for a "motorcycle ride". it's really a motorized bike that only goes so fast, and we rode it on the grass of their acreage.
charles is our cuddliest child (not a real word, i know, but describes him so aptly). anytime i am stationary, he sidles up next to me and leans against me. he likes to "fishhook" baby henry, and often is so vigorous in rocking his bouncy seat that he nearly launches him out of it. when he could finally pull himself to a standing position, he asserted his authority over his brother and sister by smacking or simply immobilizing them by sitting on top of them. he outweighs his six year-old sister by 3 pounds. poor jacob - he is the elder, smaller brother. he loves to say "awesome!". he sticks his fingers into the butter whenever it's near enough for him to reach and eats it. charlie has a penchant for nudity and likes to relieve himself outside. i catch him in the back yard half-dressed most days. one of his first words was motorcycle, but he pronounced it "moo-moo, cow-cow". needless to say, for a long time we just thought he liked cows. my three little boys, growing up in farm country...i just hope they don't take up hockey. i don't think i could be happy about that.