Junior

One of the many things we've figured our after having so many children is that there is a "cuteness peak" in each child.  It is usually somewhere during his 2nd or 3rd year (I say "his" because I stick to the traditional use of the masculine when speaking of a generic individual), but it varies between boys and girls and from child to child.  You know your child is somewhere at his peak when he says or does something so cute that you get an indescribable swell of adoration in your chest and think that you couldn't POSSIBLY love him any more than you do at that moment.

But the very next day, he does something EVEN CUTER, and you have to Facebook about it, because everyone you know must see that your child is THE cutest thing on the face of this planet.

At some point, however, it fades.  When he looks at you with that pout, it's suddenly disrespectful instead of quirky.  And when he comes to hug you, his face is no longer pressed against your knees.  It's.....somewhere else.  NOT so cute.

And he has to remind you of the time you caught him with all the tape off the roll, but said "There were only TWO pieces!" and everyone laughed.  Only it's not funny this time.

So alas, we all outlive our ability to be adorable.

But our 3 year old Stephen Jr.--with his liquid brown eyes, his immense love for his baby sister, and his inexorable ability to make us smile just by saying "Good morning, Dad!"--is most likely at his peak right now.

My heart swells.