A Two Vitamin Birthday

My sweet baby Caden turned FOUR on November 3rd.  (I am really far behind in blogsville.)

Here are some of my favorite things about you, Caden Riley:

-You are constantly singing.  There aren't usually words to your songs, it's more of a skat style.

-You think your name is spelled B-O-B.  You also think everyone else's name is spelled B-O-B.

-Every night, all the grown ups in the house must give you a hug and a kiss and pray for you after you've  gone to bed.  If Daddy puts you to bed, you come and get me.  If I put you to bed, you go get Daddy.  You say the same thing every night. "Mommy, can you give me a hug and a kiss and pray for me?"  You know I will do this, but you still come and get me if I haven't showed up in a timely manner.  If Uncle Josh is here, he must also do this.

-You are very snuggly, and very persistent with your snuggling.  Whether or not your intended target at the moment also feels like snuggling is completely inconsequential to you.  You will be snuggled regardless.

-You eat pretty much anything I put before you.  This is a nice contrast to your herbivore brothers.

-You are very clever.  You say things like, "Mom, how about I count to twenty and then you give me a piece of candy.  That's how it works."  (It usually doesn't work this way.)

-You have a Jersey accent.

-You are a little bent out of shape that Cringle has replaced you as the baby of the family.  I find this quite adorable.

-You are a sharp dresser.  Whenever I ask you to dress yourself, you always choose khakis or corduroys and a button up shirt or sweater.  You never choose sweatpants or jeans.  You're fancy.

-You love preschool and sometimes like to call me "Teacher Miss Amy" just for kicks.

-You love My Little Ponies and Power Puff Girls (or Powa Puff Gewls, as you would say).  Those are your two favorite television shows, much to your dad's chigrin.

-You are very protective of your big brothers and will call people out that you think aren't being nice to them.  I think this is quite funny, since you are the littlest of the Boyd brothers.  

-We still call you "Baby" instead of Caden quite a bit of the time.  Every once in a while you will inform me that you are a big boy, but for the most part you don't protest to the name.

-You have the best laugh in the world.  You get the hiccups every time you laugh really hard.  You have done this since you were a tiny baby.
-You are very helpful.  You love to help with the laundry and bring the milk inside after the milk truck has dropped it off.  I love this about you.
-You get very sad if anyone leaves the house without you.  I think you are hip to the fact that you miss out on some fun times being the littlest guy in the house.  You always grab your shoes and throw them on really fast whenever Daddy is getting ready to go somewhere.  It pulls on this mommy's heartstrings, and is often effective in getting you out the door.

-The most exciting thing for you about turning four is that you finally get to have two gummy vitamins at dinner instead of one.  I had no idea you felt so deprived only getting one when the big boys get two, but you have told everyone that now that you're four, you get two vitamins.  An exciting milestone.

I love you so much, Baby.  You are the best bonus baby a mom could ever hope for!