1 Year Old Today!

Dear Nick,

Happy Birthday! I absolutely can not believe you are 1 today. It has been quite a year. It started rocky, but you have made it incredible. Words can never express to you how have brought unimaginable joy to my life. Words can never express how proud I am of the accomplishments you have made over the past year.

I remember seeing you for the first time. How much I wanted to hold you and comfort you. You were so small, and so fragile. You proved that you had a spirit and will much bigger than you. I remember everyone talking about how many challenges you were about to face, how hard your road would be, and how scary all the issues you could have sounded. Somewhere, deep down in my heart and soul, I knew you would be fine. I knew that you would have your struggles, but that you were going to be perfect.

Now here you are. You are absolutely perfect. All 15lbs, 9 ounces of you. You make me laugh, you make me smile, you make my heart so full. Your spirit, love, independence are an inspiration to me every day.

You started crawling and pulling up yesterday. All in one day! Just another example of your strong will - when you are ready to do something, you do it BIG! You favorite things to do right now are pretty much anything you can do o your own. You are the most independent child I have ever seen. You love to feed yourself, and you always try to 'help" mom.

I am so proud of you. I don't know if I can ever tell you that enough. I can't wait for what the next year holds. I just wish there was a way to slow down time, so that I could soak up every minute of you.

I love you doodle bug,

Mommy

Nick at 5 days old with a stuffed moose.

Nick last night with the same moose. Boy how you've grown!