Countdown to birthday #2!

It is so hard for me to believe that almost 2 years have gone by since this precious picture was taken.  I can still feel his little warm body in my arms and his hot breath on my skin.  He was so tiny, and he just looked up at me with those little dark unfocused eyes.  I remember thinking in that moment how amazing it was that Jeremy and I were going to lead him through this life.  I hope that I have given him just a little bit of what he has given me over the last (almost) 2 years.  Jeremy and I have thanked God everyday for our little boy, and we pray that we can do the best we can for him.  We love him so very much, and we treasure each and every day.  I just want time to stand still, so he can be "Mama's boy" forever!  I included a few sentimental pictures below...I hope I can smile instead of cry at his birthday party this Sunday!  

Happy birthday, Kirk Daniel Walker....the best little boy in the whole world!

Granny Walker holding Kirk in the hospital, 8-14-09

Kirk (a few days old) and Daddy....look how tiny he looks in Jeremy's arms!

 Kirk's first birthday pictures...look at his precious baby face!  He's such a big boy now!

At 2 years old, he can:  count to 20, identify colors, recognize the letter 'K,' hold a pencil/pen/crayon/marker with a pincer grasp, take the lid off and put the lid on a marker, identify basic shapes, draw a circle and a cross, count objects to 3, sing and do motions to many songs like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Six Little Ducks," paint, identify several different species of dinosaurs, identify all zoo and farm animals, "read" books that have been read to him, like Goodnight Gorilla and If you Give a Mouse a Cookie (he even turns the pages himself), hit a baseball with a bat, kick a soccer ball, shoot a basketball into his hoop, throw a football, hit a golf ball with a club, jump with both feet off the floor, walk backwards, march, tip toe, undress himself, he is beginning to work with zippers and snaps, pee in the potty (sometimes),  make a "snake" out of play dough, blow a bubble, he has an unlimited vocabulary and uses descriptive and positional words,  uses the words "also" and "too" appropriately, he knows about 20 signs and uses them, has an impressive imagination and pretends with everything, brushes his own teeth (well), and he tells us when he is hungry, tired, sad, mad, happy, and when he needs help.  He gives the sweetest kisses and very "squeezy" hugs.  He loves popsicles, and "big drinks with a straw" (restaurant cups).  He also loves cookies, anything on Nick Jr., drawing, and anything with wheels.

Basically, he is the smartest little boy I know, and we are so proud of him!  He seems to just absorb everything we teach him and he learns so much from school.  His teachers tell us daily how impressed they are with everything that Kirk can say and do.  It is so fun to play and learn with him!