29 years ago, on February 26, 1983 I met this person for the first time. I had already grown to love the little person inside me who had such a strong response to music. When I taught piano lessons, the baby would dance to the music; if the student hadn't practiced very much and made a lot of mistakes, the baby would kick his displeasure. This is what he looked like on his first day on earth: He looks a little bit worried, doesn't he? I can hardly blame him! Life can be so hard.
We named him David Bruce. David because I just really liked that name and had always wanted to have a son named David, and Bruce after his father and, coincidentally, my brother as well. He was loved by his parents and his two older sisters, although one of them was initially a little bit put out that he was a brother and not the baby sister that she had hoped for.
Here he is just chill-axing in his porta-crib! So young and already such a happy, pleasant individual. The way he still is today!
He enjoyed spending time with his sisters, Kelli and Abbi...
And was happy to welcome another one when Nancy was born in 1985. Here he is with Grandpa C, his cousin Michelle who is exactly two months younger than David, to the day, and baby Nancy.
He was a very handsome, smiley boy!
Not quite so smiley about having his great-grandpa L. holding him, in this picture from 1987. He would have felt much happier in the arms of his dad or Grandpa L. But still, wonderful that he got to meet a great-grandparent!
But very smiley in his portrait from 1987, despite the really bad haircut foisted on him by his mother!
1989 arrived, and with it, another member of the family. David finally had a brother! He was kind and sweet to Patrick, just as he had been when Nancy joined our family.
He began to be a bit fascinated by superheroes like Batman, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles--and eventually, others...
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| Old habits never die, apparently. Quailman and his brother, Clark Kent. |
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Quailman, Ninjas, Beltheads. Any super-hero will do...
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| Ninja warrior |
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| Belthead warrior siblings |
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| Where's Waldo is a Super Hero? I suppose so...master of anonymity. |
David became an ardent hockey fan. In 1994, the year Josie was born, the Canucks went to the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Go Canucks! David also frequently demonstrated his card-tower building skills.
David loved Josie and welcomed her to the family, just as he had so happily accepted the others. She adored him then, and still adores him today. Here is his twelfth birthday, 1995, with his dad, all the sibs, and the grandparents C.
He took up gymnastics...
And music...
Pie-eating...
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| Pie-eating contest at family reunion, 1996, with cousin Michelle. |
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| Annual Pie Day (PI day) 3.14.2011 |
And dancing...
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| May 1999 with Lauren P. in High River. |
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| ...and then a few years later, still having fun, but getting much fancier... |
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| On the BYU Folk Dance Team... |
He became a Chief Scout in Canada...
He had a lot of fun playing with his siblings, even in the snow. This picture from 2002.
A High School Graduate in 2001, seen here with the Grandparents L. and Josie. He later graduated with a BA in Latin American Studies, an MS in Library Science and is pursuing another graduate degree in England.
He is a really great family member--son, brother, cousin, uncle.
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| David holding baby cousin Vance, Andrew holding Rachel |
David, I love you so much! You are an amazing person, such a happy, contented, nice person to be around. I miss you, and hope you have a happy birthday! I'm so glad that you were born!
We named him David Bruce. David because I just really liked that name and had always wanted to have a son named David, and Bruce after his father and, coincidentally, my brother as well. He was loved by his parents and his two older sisters, although one of them was initially a little bit put out that he was a brother and not the baby sister that she had hoped for. 
Here he is just chill-axing in his porta-crib! So young and already such a happy, pleasant individual. The way he still is today! 
He enjoyed spending time with his sisters, Kelli and Abbi... 
And was happy to welcome another one when Nancy was born in 1985. Here he is with Grandpa C, his cousin Michelle who is exactly two months younger than David, to the day, and baby Nancy.
He was a very handsome, smiley boy!
Not quite so smiley about having his great-grandpa L. holding him, in this picture from 1987. He would have felt much happier in the arms of his dad or Grandpa L. But still, wonderful that he got to meet a great-grandparent!
But very smiley in his portrait from 1987, despite the really bad haircut foisted on him by his mother!
1989 arrived, and with it, another member of the family. David finally had a brother! He was kind and sweet to Patrick, just as he had been when Nancy joined our family.
He began to be a bit fascinated by superheroes like Batman, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles--and eventually, others... 
David loved Josie and welcomed her to the family, just as he had so happily accepted the others. She adored him then, and still adores him today. Here is his twelfth birthday, 1995, with his dad, all the sibs, and the grandparents C. 
He took up gymnastics... 
