Rudy turns 1: My First Rodeo!

Our kid's first birthays have been two of the happiest days of my life. I love the opportunity to celebrate them and spoil them a bit- and reminisce about the magical day we met them. Rudy, my heart is bursting with love for you. You are one of a kind and have taught us a new level of love. I'll save some of the mushy stuff for the end of this, so I give you:

Rudester...
Reutiger...
Rooster...
Tooter...

Rootin' Tootin' RUDY!:

Grammy Rice- always ready for fun...

Everyone wore bandanas. We drank root beer, chowed on Grandma Woodhouse's beans, rode horses and had "bad guy" water gun battles. 

Uncle Critty is always a hit with the kiddos!

Well hey there, cowboy... ;)

can I tell you how much I LOVE this photo of Logan?!

Give that boy a chance to pretend he's getting bad guys and there is major fun to be had...

Some Photo Booth fun!...

I love you two more than words can express.

These are probably my favorite pictures of the day!

This relay was a hot mess- but we laughed! Participants shot marshmallows off Coke bottles with water guns, galloped around the house on a horse, do-si-do'd and rang a cow bell for the win.
Yee. Haw.

Jeff and I were absolutely positive that Rudy would devour his cake. We have joked that he may very well be a competitive eater in his adult life. 

As tradition, Grammy Rice made his smash cake and the adorable horse cupcakes. 

He was pretty delicate. He poked at it with one finger and never really took off.

Mom, Dad, and even big brother tried to help him out but he just wasn't feelin' it. 

But hey, got some sweet photos out of it! :)

The Stats:

Length: 30.5 inches - 76th Percentile

Weight: 19 lbs 2 oz - 16th Percentile

First tooth: 6 months - Nov 19th

First Steps: 10 months - April 7th

Rudy,

You are a joyful, playful baby who is full of personality!
You wave, toast your sippy cup with your bro when he says "CHEERS", and are practically running everywhere. You LOVE Daisy and all cats and dogs- and squeal when you see them. 

You decided soon after starting solids that pureed foods were for babies, and you eat like a man- Chili, whole bananas, pasta, chicken sausage... you name it. (Just not cake, apparently...)

Your top two teeth are just perfect. Everyone comments on them when we are out. 

You think sleep is overrated. 

You play sports with your brother already- favorite?- Hockey!

Thinking back- You were in the belly already when we decided it was time to grow our family, you were born a few days early on a day I wasn't expecting to meet you, you started walking so soon- 

You are just so ready to be here and take on the world-

and we are so very blessed to do it with you.

Happy Birthday, my sweet RUDY TOOTY!