that I was carrying you around in a car seat...
and you loved to have me take your picture...
and you wanted to be just like your Daddy...
and you hung out with your namesake, Uncle Clay...
and you loved your Mommy more than anything in the world...
that you were celebrating your first birthday...
that you used to suck your thumb...
(you DID stop that, didn't you...??)
that you played on your bulldozer...
that you were THRILLED to be seeing Barney Live! (me - not so much)...
and you caught your first fish (a Bluegill)...
(and were missing a couple of teeth)
that you graduated from Kindergarten...
and (again!) you let me take your picture...
and rode your "big boy" bike...
and roller-bladed...
and had your sixth birthday, and wanted to be just like the Crocodile Hunter...
and were mesmerized by Uncle Bud's stories about World War II...
and cuddled with Rags...
and pretended to be Santa...
and caught frogs....
Oh wait. You still do that!!
that you posed for the camera in Amsterdam...
and had braces on your teeth...
Robert Claiborne Van Kuiken
You are smart, handsome, kind, generous, funny, imaginative, messy, curious, silly, capable, and amazing. You father and I love you more than we ever thought possible. You are the best son anyone could ask for. We love you, Clay-Doh!
Happy Birthday!!
