Happy Birthday, Calder!!!

My Buggo is 8! Can you believe it!? (Actually, he's been 8 now for 10 days. I'm such a slacker getting to this post.) As you can see, we have a fun-filled party hearty summer every year. There are 23 days between Addie's birthday and Calder's. Gavin's is nestled in there, too. It's so fun for the kids to have summer birthdays. We get to spend their special days together and make them fun.

When Calder was born I realized how much I could fall in love with a baby boy. Before him I actually felt sorry for people who had sons because baby girls were so sweet and so cute. Well. Calder was THE CUTEST baby ever! I mean it. The cutest! He had the sweetest disposition. You couldn't help but smile whenever he was in the same room. I mean, just look at how cute this kid is!!!

(1 year old)

(Always doing something silly...2 years old.)

(Oh, just look at those curls!!! 3 years old.)
(4 Years old.) (5 Years Old.)

I started calling Calder Buggaboo when he was born, and it got shortened to Buggo or Bug. I had no idea that Buggaboo is an actual word meaning something that causes worry. Turns out he lived up to that name. . .


#1) While pregnant with Calder, I developed gestational diabetes for the first time. When in for a routine non-stress test we discovered I had run out of amniotic fluid so they rushed me over to labor and delivery, let me call Gary and then started my labor 2 & 1/2 weeks before my due date.

#2) Calder failed his hearing test in the hospital when he was born, but only in his right ear. They assured me that it was likely debris from birth that would clear out in time. After lots and lots of testing we found that Calder is, in fact, hearing impaired in his right ear. He is so impaired we can technically call him deaf in that ear. It's very uncommon to be born deaf in only one ear. And, to this day we don't know what caused the impairment. You'd really never know he has this disability, though. He manages very well in spite of it!

#3) Calder also had a lot of lung problems as a baby/toddler (although he still always seemed to have a smile on his face!). He had RSV at 6 months, tubes put in his ears (to hopefully help his hearing) when he was 7 months old, and countless bronchial/lung infections. At 1 & 1/2 he was finally diagnosed with asthma, which he has thankfully grown out of mostly. I don't miss the frequent nebulizer treatments one bit!

#4) I can't count the amount of times Calder has been stitched, stapled, or surgically glued shut on his head and face. When he was a toddler, I used to joke that if there was a piece of thread on the carpet, Calder would trip over it.

#5) Now we are getting into some really fun stuff! When Calder first started teething, we realized his top front teeth were coming in crowded even when there was plenty of room. Turns out he has 2 extra teeth up there. In one socket, they're fused together which makes them look crooked. Although it makes for an adorably unique smile we think from Xrays that he has FOUR extra teeth in his permanent set, 2 on top and 2 on the bottom. Now that he's losing teeth it's time to consult with an oral surgeon. Goody goody!

(Oh no! The plastic painted buffalo is gonna get me!!! West Yellowstone... 6 Years old)

(Buffalo River in Island Park... 6 Years Old.)(Yellowstone National Park...7 Years Old.)
Calder has always been a sensitive, caring, loving kid. He has been such a great big brother to Sadie. He does all he can to keep her happy and laughing. When Gavin was born he was a perfect audience for Calder's clowning around. Calder would goof off and Gavin would squeal in delight. I used to call Calder my snuggle bug because he's the only one of my kids who would just sit and be cuddled for as long as I wanted. He still will crawl up onto my lap and give me big, long hugs. I just can't get enough!


(Happy 8th Birthday!)

I asked Calder this year if he'd rather go to Hogle Zoo or the Dinosaur Park for his birthday. I fully expected him to choose the zoo because we only get there every year or so. The Dino Park is so close that we go there a lot more often. But, he surprised me and chose the Dino Park. Gary took the 3 older kids while I, unfortunately, took Sadie to the dr. where we found out she had a double ear infection.

(Dinosaur Park 8/6/2009.)

(Um...this picture speaks for itself.)

On September 5th, Calder will be baptized. He is super excited! He got a new suit for his birthday and looks so handsome. Happy birthday, Buggo!!! We love you so much!