My baby boy, my firstborn child, my sweet chubby toddler is turning 16 today. 

I can't believe I'm at this point. I remember holding him in my arms in the hospital, a day after giving birth to him and doing all the math about how old his older sister and I would be on his "milestone" birthdays. 16 being one of them. It felt like so far away at the time, and *snap* here it is. 

I miss my boy. He lives in Seattle with his dad. I saw him this past November, but I rarely get the opportunity to fly out there to see him (airfare is expensive, and so is car rentals/hotel/meals/etc.) We're hoping to send Chloe out to see him this Christmas, so at least they can spend it together. We would fly him here, but he has A LOT of health conditions. He's Autistic, a Type-1 Diabetic and those two alone prevent him from flying alone. He has a bunch of other things as well, so him flying solo is out of the question. And if we go there, we have to pay for all the travel stuff as his father and I are not on the greatest terms. (Let's just say, it's a really good thing we're 2500 miles apart.)

But yeah. I miss my kiddo today. I had plans to wear a bright outfit today to make me happy, but I'm still sitting here with a cold, being all sick. #Ugh

So I'll just leave it at this:

Happy Birthday Toby! I love you and miss you fiercely! You've become an amazing young man, and I could not be more proud of you. You are compassionate and kind, smart and funny, and have the brightest soul out of anyone I know. You are my handsome man, and will always be my baby boy. I love you with all my heart.

Pictures of the man-child Toby, newest pictures first, to his first newborn picture, under the cut.

Almost 16. I don't have a more recent picture, as his dad is crap at getting pictures. :/ 

Toby and Chloe at their dad's wedding.

Toby, me and Chloe

15

15

14

13

13

12

11

10

9! 

8

7 here

5th birthday with his sister. :) 

He's about 2.5 here, he lost his teeth running into a metal chair and was toothless from like, 3.5 until he was about 7. lol. 

14 months old

11 months old

He looooooooved (and still loves) the water. (9 months old)

8 months old (up picture and down)

He got to a chunky monkey fast, he's 3 months old here.

1 month old

My dad holding him, so this is basically the first time he saw a beard. haha.

We called this "froggy". he was such a bitty thing.