Tom: the baby, the body

The end of this post is sure to embarrass... well, everyone. But I couldn't resist! You should have seen how cute Tom was this morning!

After an extended text messaging conversation with sister Brooke the other day I realized that my sisters have not have the joy of seeing pictures of Baby Tom and imagining what their some-day nephew or niece may look like. Mind you, I was an unusually thin, and therefore not-so-cute baby (so who knows what will happen!). I plumped up quickly and have been a little (or "medium-sized" as Tom and I always say) tree-stump ever since. But it was quite the opposite with Tom, as you will see.

Exhibit A:

Oh my goodness, I love this picture. Fat bellies belong in one-pieces. My Grandpa Shilha knew this, and wore a jumpsuit and cowboy boots all of his oldster days. And apparently my mother-in-law knew this. Good woman.

Here he is again with Grandpa Mattson:

Couldn't you just kiss those cheeks right off? Not a hint of those peach halves remain today, but it doesn't stop me from kissing those cheeks which are now full of the best smile lines since... James Franco! (Yes, James Franco is like 6 years older than Tom, the comparison works) ... Dennis Quaid! Maybe that's a better one? Abe Lincoln! OK, I'm done. You get the idea.

His cheeks weren't the only thing to change dramatically. Look at these limbs!

He became one skinny dude, despite evidenced intense feeding sessions. His horizontal growth could not keep up with the vertical. But he hit his fully-mature height early in life and has been filling out ever since.

When I met him he was quite soft around the edges thanks to the diet of the newly-collegiate.

I remember (well) the first time I saw him after a summer of hard labor. As he approached my friend and I where we stood on a street in South East Portland our jaws hit the pavement. My friend was sure that wasn't the guy we were waiting for (Thanks a lot, Doug).

He is quite the shape-shifter that man.

Despite waiting years I was still the first to call dibs on those biceps.

Go me.

I just hope he doesn't pass them on to our daughter. I doubt she'll be into that look.