Happy Birthday Sterling!!!

**Just so you know this is going to be an extremely long post, (I'm talkin probably an entire page long...don't judge! I'm very sentimental) but only because of pictures. See this post will probably only be fun for me, Heath, our parents, and grandparents. I could have done a slide show, but I didn't want to. I could have made them smaller but I didn't want to. I wish I could have done the side-by-side, but don't know how. So...consider yourself warned!**

I can hardly believe that yet another year has come and gone. I am not going to make this all mushy but I just want to remember you at this age. I am not good with words, so I will use pictures to remind myself (and you all) of how much I love you, sweet child of mine, and how much fun we have with you.

You have such a sweet personality and it shows. Your facial expressions are off the hook! You'll see! You have always been a very expressive child, in the way you talk and also in your facial expressions. I have picked out some of my most favorite pictures from your birth to now. Try not to fall asleep. And now for your viewing pleasure...

I took pictures each week of pregnancy, but I was induced 3 weeks early because you were already measuring over 9 lbs at 35 weeks prego, and not to mention "weighing" mommy down just a tad!! At my 37 week picture I measured what a 45 week pregnant person would measure. (if you don't know what that means, you are supposed to measure a centimeter from the top of the belly to the bottom, for each week you are pregnant. So 37 weeks prego =37 cm. I was 37=45 cm. Can you say OUCH and MISERABLE!! Oh, and women don't even go 45 weeks!)

All 9 lbs. 6 oz. of perfection!

You were the biggest baby in the nursery.

This has got to be one of my favorite pictures of you and Daddy. You can tell Daddy has been cryin his eyes out and you are looking up at your Daddy for the first time...sweetness. New parents on the road, everyone watch out!! (you was born during hurricane Rita, so the aftermath was hitting us right when we were being released to go home. Talk about driving like a couple of grannies! haha)

just 2 weeks old and so alert

Just had to stick this on here in case you ever get to wondering why you always had a bib on at all times...it's called acid reflux! YUCK! This was your first New Years. mommy is so mean!

Just look at these next three faces below. these were taken one right after another. There were about 4 more different faces, but these were the best!

You've got some big shoes to fill there Buddy! It's crazy to think one day you will actually be able to wear those. sniff Always such a happy baby! I couldn't decide between these two. I think these are two of my favorite pictures of you. Such sweet expressions!

Your first "owie". Look at those eyes! Oh my! Your first spaghetti experience...what were we thinking!?!

Ok, Daddy threatened me with a half inch of my life to not post these two pics...LOL!! "Too pretty to be a little boy" is what we always heard. Just wanted to see what you would look like with some piggy tails! haha Two years ago today...on his first birthday. Look at those sweet, soft, blonde wings! Oh, and of course, that face!

Showing us you are "ONE"! Those wings were cut a few days later... sad. Couldn't resist! This was your reaction when you came around the corner on Christmas morning to see what Santa got you= priceless!! (you were 15 months old)

First time to be a ring bearer...so cute! Always wanting to be just like your Daddy. First day of pre-school at Sonshine School. (07)

Your second birthday party! Elmo anyone? First time to sleep without your passy!! Yay! Let it go and never turned back! First time to use your big boy seat...no more high chair! YAY! I still wonder why we let you have spaghetti for your first meal in it! My pair of Mr. Fix-it's!

You being goofy like your Daddy was...you guys were imitating "glamour shots" pictures from the 80's...like you had any idea what that was!

Do we have a future model on our hands!?! hehe Mr. Grumpy on Christmas morning last year. (07) Showin mommy some lovin'! My sweet boy Your first snowball.

Silly boy All about makin funny faces! Classic! PRICELESS!

Favorite word, phrase, food...CHEESE!! At his "gym"!

Hittin that gym pretty hard there buddy!

Gangsta!

first "pageant"...hehe :)

first time to go roller skating by yourself! What a big boy! Another classic "boy" moment! Priceless face!

First time at the dentist. Ugh! Here's to better luck next time bud!

Mommy and Daddy love you so much little man. You bring us so much joy and can't even remember what life was like before you came along. Here are a few statistics on your growth so far at three years old. (I can't believe you're three!!!)

~ You weigh 40 lbs

~You are left-handed and always have been since a baby.

~Know your full name and the city and state you live in.

~ ABC's: can say all of the alphabet and recognize every single one. Can write an "O" and "S". Know that "Lane" starts with "L" and "Sterling" starts with "S". Able to trace all letters.

~ Recognize your name in writing.

~123's: Counts to 14 in English and 6 in Spanish. Can recognize numbers 1-11 in writing.

~Recognize almost all shapes.

~knows all basic colors. (actually knew that in your early twos) You say your favorite color is black!

~Love to do your "school work"! If you only knew! :)

~can tell us the first name of everyone in both families (including grandparents)

~Can fully understand everything you say. You have been talking in complete sentences a few months after turning two.

~pee pee potty trained, but not poo poo...ugh!

~starting to get picky on what foods you eat...you have never had a problem with this until now!

~Reading books are your favorite past time.

~I know I am a little biased, but you are one of the most well behaved kids I know and am told that quite often from people. I usually only have to tell you once not to/to do something and you do it. You also have very good manors

~You are also one of the goofiest kids I know! :)

There are much more things about you (look in your baby book, I wrote the rest there) but to spare the people who are actually still reading (which I can't imagine anyone doing) the very long saga will end here.

!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY STERLING!!