An open letter to my son on his first birthday:
It hardly seems likes it's been a year since you joined us. Time flies by and you are growing so fast.
When we brought you home from the hospital you were so tiny and helpless. You barely took up any space in you bassinet and now when I wake up in the morning I hear you talking to yourself. I walk in to get you and you are standing up in your crib, with a huge smile on your face, reaching out to me.
A year ago we had such problems getting you to eat. You would eat for a minute or two and then fall fast asleep only to wake up hungry 15 minutes later. Now you are eating lots of solid foods, and even feeding yourself. If you are eating something messy and I am too slow in dishing your next bite out to you, you howl like a ravenous little wolf.
You used to love to snuggle on Daddy's chest to sleep and you still do now, but only after you are all tuckered out from a long day of learning to walk and talk. There are so many things going on around you, and you want to be a part of all of them.
Ever since you were born you've always been so aware of everything going on around you. You have such bright, smart eyes.
When you smile you have dimples under your eyes. Your smile lights up a room, and people always stop me to tell me how cute you are. My friends always tell me how much you look like your father, and you do, but people who watched me grow up smile and say that you look like me.
You are so close to taking your first wobbly steps and I know that once you do, you'll be unstoppable. You are infinitely mischievous and love to follow me around the house getting into trouble. You love to crawl around with the tv remote in your hand. We gave you your own remote and took the batteries out, but somehow you always know the difference between the real one and the fake one. You are fascinated with the computer keyboard and have shut down the computer more than once while I've been working on it. One of your favorite things to do in the mornings while I am making breakfast is to get into the fridge and show me all the food that is in there.
Everyday your babbling sounds a little less like nonsense and a little more like real words. You say Dada and Mama and you when you like what you are eating, you say, "Mmmmm". You "sing" when you hear music and you "dance" when you like the beat.
You are growing up more every minute. I feel like I put you to bed as a little baby and you woke up as a little man. We danced our first mother-son dance at your "Aunt" Kat's wedding to "Uncle" Jake a few weeks ago and you were so cute. I cried. You are also the best swing dance partner a lady could ever ask for.
Your Aunt Valerie love you so much and begs to have you come over for days at a time. Grandma and Grandpa P spoil you rotten and then send you home to me. They love you so much, and I know that you love them just as much. When they call on the phone and talk to you, you smile and "talk" right back.
Grandma Sue gave you your very first taste of donut and loves to take you to work and show you off.
Uncle Bernie comes over to hang out fairly often and you two have fun.
At the beginnings of this months we moved out of the first apartment you ever lived in, to a huge spacious apartment. Your Dad works so hard to give you the best of everything. He wanted this apartment so bad, so that you would have room to roam as you grow and explore. He loves to spend time with you so much and you have giggling fits when he throws you in the air and plays airplane with you. No matter how hard you are crying, whenever he picks you up and sings to you, you always calm right down.
You have definitely been showing signs of a fiery temper. I think you might get that from me. Hmm. When you don't get what you want, you scream bloody murder and throw things. When I pick you up to comfort you, you want nothing to do with me and push my face away when I try to kiss you. And just in the last few days, you have discovered a flair for the dramatic. Whenever I tell you no, you screw up your little face, pull your ears and cry like the world is ending.
I kiss and snuggle you every chance I get because I know that soon the day will come when you say "Eww Mom" or "Not in front of the guys!" My favorite time of the day is the mornings. You are so cuddly in the morning. We have an awesome ritual. When you wake up, I bring you to Mommy and Daddy's room and we snuggle in bed and wrestle and giggle and have good times. Then, when Daddy comes home from work, he plays with you and reads you a story and puts you to bed.
You are growing up so fast, I almost wish I could freeze you at this age but I cannot wait to see the man that you are going to grow up to be.
Your Dad and I have such big hopes and dreams for you, and we know that if you reach for the stars, you WILL achieve.
I love Tristan Scott. Thank you for the year we've had with you and for the many more to come.