The First Year

Dear Son,

You have brought us a year of joy, excitement and filled our hearts with love.

It was the biggest anticipation waiting for your birth. And you decided to show up late. 12 days late. And mummy’s belly got bigger and bigger. The 24 hours leading to your birth was an excruciating wait and when the doctor finally pulled you out and we heard your loud cry, that was the best moment in our lives. You were perfect in every way.

Your eyes were opened the moment you were born and your eyes were bright and never missed a thing. They still are. They tell us all babies slept for 10 hours. But not you my dear son. You were awake every hour for your feeding and loved to be held in our arms. In fact, that was the only time you slept. You did not like to be wrapped up and liked your arms and legs free. And those strong legs of yours could really kick. You were also very tall. 21 inches at birth. And 9 pounds.

You had both sets of grandparents wrapped around your little finger. You loved talking (blabbering) to them especially to Kung Kung every morning.

Your first words were Baba, Mama, Dada, La, Mek.. You would say Ba (for bus) each time the school bus came by. Baba (for your milk bottle), Ah Mer (for Summer the doggie) and Ber (for bear). You loved Aspen the Owl that Godma Fiona gave you. And you went to sleep each night with your Goodnight Moon Bunny Lovey (you named him Tata). We would read Goodnight Moon together every night.. over and over again.

And Flashcards. You were curious why the circle, orange and ball all looked alike but were named differently. It was always a joy to see how your little mind worked.

Your laughter is probably the best. That little chuckle warms my heart and the way you raise your eyebrows is too cute. Everyone says you looked like a little man the minute you were born.

You first rolled over at 10 weeks old. Sat up at 5 months. And took your first steps on November 8 – around 11.5 months old.

You will eat anything pureed but will gag at just about anything not pureed or textured, but you will eat puffs, rice crackers and saltine crackers and even a couple of potato chips. So I think we have to work on this eating activity with you some.

The zoo was your first roadtrip adventure with your cousins, grandparents and Aunt. And your first weeklong vacation without Mommy and Daddy was to the Tennessee mountains and to Dollywood.

We went to the beach this summer. You enjoyed the early morning walks with Mommy by the beach and being carried in the Ergo. The cousins adored you and always wanted to play with you. But you did not want your feet in the sand, nor in the water.

You had the little cyst on your ear removed on September 20. Mommy could not sleep all night even though it was just a little surgery. You were so brave going in. But was not happy after the surgery. With all the tubes sticking into you, that is not fun at all.

Por Por got to come back for a 5 months visit to spend time with you watching you grow.

You love watching other children play. And always gave a smile to strangers at the grocery store or in restaurants. You laughed at the employee in Costco who was arranging meat in the freezer.

When we say “love love”, you will touch your forehead to ours and you give the best hugs.

You love looking at yourself in the mirror. And you think the snot sucker is funny. You will watch videos of yourself laughing over and over again and burst into uncontrollable giggles each time. Cutest thing ever.

Riding in the red wagon is one of your favorite activities with your Paw Paw. Paw Paw also made you a swing and you enjoyed it so much, even in the cold.

For Halloween, you were supposed to be a giraffe but you had a fit when we put the costume on you so you went as Calvin and Hobbes and rode in your red wagon.

On your first birthday, Mommy planned a cupcake themed party with family and our friends, The Austins. We tried to get you to taste your very first cake but you would not even touch it. A poke was all we got from you. And that is okay.

We look forward to many more years with you.

I love you, son.