It’s Liam’s birthday today.  Can you believe it?  Two years ago to the minute, we were hoofing it over to the hospital from our doctor’s office, getting checked in at the admittance desk and waiting for a room to open up in Labor and Delivery.  It was real and it was happening.  FINALLY.

It’s strange to think, that two years plus one day ago we were still a family of three.  We got very used to it just being the three of us.  And Harry was getting older and more independent.  We had left the baby years behind and now, fast forward to today, we’re hip deep in baby.

UNBELIEVABLE.

This last year was a rough one.  Not that it wasn’t a good year, because it has been fabulous for us.  But there has been an awful lot of upheaval that we never saw coming at this time last year.  No, last year it was All Liam, All the Time.  And he, naturally, loved it.

Since he was born, Liam has been referred to as “The Golden Child” around here.  He was our miracle baby.  And watching him grow up through his first year and then his second one has been nothing short of a treasure.  He has such a personality and in this last year, it has just blossomed.  He charms everyone with his wit and antics, twinkling eyes and engaging grin.  And did I mention the antics?

Last year we didn’t know Liam would have a baby sister.  But it wasn’t too long after his first birthday that we found out.  And so, predictably, a lot of this year was filled with baby preparations.  So the focus was diverted somewhat off of Liam, but if you knew Liam, you would know that we couldn’t divert it for long.  Watching this child grow and learn actually became a great distraction from obsessing about the baby growing within my belly.

He has such an adventurous spirit.  I know a lot of you who have toddler boys are going, “Uhm, DUH?”  But if you had known Harry was a toddler, you would understand.  He was perhaps the most cautious child in the history of children.  He never took a chance and was the rare sort of child that if we told him “NO” then he actually would not do that anymore.  Yeah, Liam is not that child.

We were so nervous when Evie was born.  We worried that Liam would be jealous of the baby, that he would act out against us and against the baby.  And we were so surprised when that didn’t happen.  In fact, he hardly noticed her at first.  There was interest, sure.  But he couldn’t be bothered to stop in his playing to throw things at his sister.  He was too busy having fun.

And now here he is.  TWO.  I have a feeling that Liam will be redefining the Terrible Twos for us (Harry didn’t have them at all).  He’s not talking a whole lot, just his regular Liam gibberish.  I can understand a few things he says (the other day, he was playing under a blanket fort with Harry and Harry farted and Liam didn’t even miss a beat, saying, “Uh oh… wa-shat?”  I about bust a gut laughing), and know the rest will come.  His big brother was a late talker as well.  I’m not worried about him.

He doesn’t walk when he can run.  That pretty much sums him up to a t.  Liam moves fast and surprises us with how fast he catches on to things, learns, immitates and acts on his impulses.  He’s quick to anger, but also quick to forgive and quick to give hugs.  He loves hugs.  But maybe not as much as he loves to run.

We’re not going all out for a party this year.  Just the five of us here at home having cupcakes and ice cream.  Everyone has picked out a gift for the little guy and we know he’s going to be in hog heaven.  I can’t wait to see the look on his face (I gotta make the cupcakes first, though!).  Most of all, I can’t believe he is two years old already.  I find myself looking ahead and wondering what this year will bring us.  Chaos, of that I’m sure.  But if I know Liam, it will also bring lots and lots of fun.  Happy Birthday, monkey boy!