Happy 6th Birthday, Charlie!

It seems like only yesterday that we welcomed our 9 pound, 13 ounce baby boy into the world!

Right from the start, we knew he and Daddy would be best friends!

Here is 2 year old Rachel holding Charlie!

We would just sit around and stare at him! I vividly remember taking this picture in the hospital. We had just finished singing and dancing to "Mr Charlie' by the Grateful Dead and he was pooped!

Here we are at Charlie's 1st birthday! It was a barnyard theme! Look at him staring down his cake!

Charlie and Daddy were rootin' tootin' cowboys!

Here's the whole gang! Doesn't it feel like there's so many missing!! We were rather small back then!

Then we moved to Ocean City for a little bit!

And Charlie still loved Daddy best!

He was no bigger than a shoe...

He had big expressions even then!

Charlie's 2nd birthday! Blues Clues!

I was pregnant with Finny!

Ryan is mortified that they are fighting over a toy!

Jazz hands! It's my 2nd birthday!

Charlie's 3rd birthday! Cars! Oh boy, did we love Cars!!

Charlie's 4th birthday at Build a Bear. He wanted a "worm" theme. I wasn't really sure what that meant, so I improvised!

His cake and ice cream at home for his 4th birthday.

The big, proud 5 year old with his best friends Jack and Luke at his Superman party!

Celebrating his 5th birthday the night before his party with the Krechels!

Here he is all big and almost 6!
This was one of about 10 pictures I took of him. Each one was a different face. I thought this one was particularly funny because he looks like a Yodeler or something! He was standing in front of the "Mario" New Year's banner that he and Daddy drew. He was so proud of it!

From day one, we knew that Charlie was one of a kind! It has been such an unbelievable privilege to watch him grow up. He has always been an "old sould" with a heart of gold. He is caring, thoughtful, empathetic, funny, creative and a great friend (all of the things I would also describe Joe as!) Every year, we can't believe he's another year older. And next year we'll be saying the same thing! It is with a teary eye and an overflowing heart that I wish my big boy a Happy 6th Birthday!!