It’s been a whole year since you were born, and I can’t
believe how different our lives are now. It’s incredible to look back on how
quickly you have grown and changed. You went from a tiny baby who slept in my
arms every night to an independent almost-toddler who has to investigate everything.
You said your first word! You point and say “that (or “dat”)
when you want to know what something is, and you want to know what everything is.
Then you said your second word! You point at something you
want and say “touch” (or “dutch”), and we walk around the house together “dutching”
everything.
I tell you “no, no” when you’re about to “dutch” something you
shouldn’t, and you mock me with a “na, na” and a smile, and you touch it anyway.
You try to repeat every sound we make. We take exaggerated
drinks from our glasses and then say “ahhhh,” and you smile and mimic back a
loud “ahhhh.”
You said “mama” at breakfast the other day. I’m not sure if
you knew what you were saying or if you were just repeating what Grandma said,
but it was music to my ears.
You’re such a little ham! You like to make silly noises and
laugh and try to make us laugh with you. You know your smile lights up a room
and the hearts of everyone in it. If you’re
being naughty, you smile at me and laugh and raise your arms to be picked up,
knowing that I’m too much of a sucker to be mad at you. You’ve got Mama wrapped
around your adorable little finger. (You’re a charmer just like Daddy.)
I have memories of my life before you, but I don’t remember
what it feels like to not be your mother. What filled my heart before you? What
used to be in the place that now houses so much love?
I must have kissed your face at least a million times in the
past year, and I savor every sloppy kiss I get in return. You wrap your little
arms around me and squeeze my neck, and I want to make that brief moment last forever.
What happened to my little baby who wanted to nurse every
thirty minutes? Now, you’re weening yourself, only interested in nursing before
you go to sleep. You no longer have the patience for Mommy and Daddy to feed
you baby food. You feed yourself like an expert now, eating the same foods we
eat. You drink regular cow’s milk from a sippy cup, too much of a big boy to take
a bottle.
You’re going to walk any day now. I just know it. You stand
by yourself without realizing it, and you walk along the furniture while barely
hanging on. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you. You learn so fast. I can’t wait to see what the next year
will bring.
I never knew a love like this. You are my life, my heart. The first
year of your life has been the best year of mine.
Happy first birthday, my sweet boy.
Love,
Mommy
Mommy
 |
| Quinn - four days old |
 |
| Quinn - one year old |
