Will turns 1!!

Good morning my little birthday boy!

My little boy is 1 today. One entire year old, one year since I gave birth to him, one year since I heard his first cry and held him in my arms for the very first time, one year since I got to meet the little person kicking me for so many months. In some ways it doesn't seem like it could have possibly been a year, but it some ways it does. How could it have only been a year ago I was so unsure of myself holding this tiny little baby trying to get to know him and what he liked and what kind of person he was, and being so worried that I somehow was going to mess this whole parenting thing up. Will has taught me so much about myself over this past year. I went from this nervous, not confident mother, who had no idea what to do with this child that cried and didn't sleep, and threw up all the time, to a confident mother who now knows her son and all his little quirks and likes and dislikes like the back of her hand.

This little person Aaron and I are raising has turned into quite the little personality over this last year. He is sweet and loving, energetic, happy, silly, and full of life. He knows what he wants when he wants it, and can be very demanding with his likes and dislikes. He likes his routine, and his blankie, and his doggy.. especially his doggy. And he loves to dance, and be chased around the house, and read, and he especially loves his bath time. He is very determined when learning new things and I'm pretty sure that is the reason he's been early with a lot of his motor skills. He has turned into an excellent sleeper, and an even better eater. He loves to imitate our movements and what we say, and each and every week he is learning more and more new words. Just this past month alone he has gone from walking to running, from climbing stairs to climbing on everything, from his duck tub to a big boy tub, from formula to milk. In the last about two weeks Aaron and I have noticed a definite change in his personality. He does things just for the sake of making us laugh, he understands what we are saying more and tries to repeat things we say, or communicate a response to what we have said to him. He now throws small 30 second temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. The tantrums involve stomping his feet and letting out a scream, and then the tantrum stops just as quickly as it started. He is starting to realize that the toys in our house are his and he doesn't want to share them with his friends all the time. Oh so much teaching to be done!! What a big month my little one has had!!

In a few short weeks, my toddler (notice I didn't say baby), will be running around outside with his Daddy and his doggy playing ball each evening. Who can believe we are actually starting year 2 with this little man now!! I am starting to get that nostalgic feeling when I see a pregnant women, and thoughts of a second are starting to cross my mind. But Aaron keeps reminding me of sleepless nights, and reflux, and those thoughts go right out of my head :) Maybe someday Will will get a brother or a sister... but not any time soon! Today I will just enjoy my one little bundle of joy, and enjoy watching him open up his presents with his daddy, his doggy, and myself after dinner, and I will thank God that he has entrusted us with such a beautiful and wonderful child.