One Year Later

Today, D, you are 1 year and 16 days old. And although I whisper it in your ear all the time, I want it written down so you really REALLY know, you're the cutest kid in the world. Before you? Well, a limited number of my friends' kids were cute, but I really mean a LIMITED number, because I just wasn't a kid person, even if I DID want one for myself. And after you? Well, truthfully, there's STILL a limited number of my friends' kids I think are cute, because nobody, and I mean NOBODY, compares to you my luv.

Part of what makes you the cutest kid in the world is that even at only a year old, you are who you are and you don't yet seem to care what anybody thinks. Screeching high-pitched screeches at the top of your lungs in the middle of the mall? No worries, that's just what you wanna do when you're happy.

Laying in your bed, rolling your hand back and forth over your mouth so you can make that "wah wah wah wah wah" noise instead of sleeping? No worries, that's how you entertain yourself before you go to sleep.

Walking laps around the house with your arms in the air like you just don't care? Well, you really DON'T seem to care just how silly you look. And sometimes, that's just about the best thing in the world, because it brings out the best in your dad and I in that sometimes now WE don't care just how silly WE look. Because for you, there's nothing we wouldn't do. Sure, other parents offer to throw themselves in front of moving buses, and promise gifts of their left kidney should you need it, but us - YOUR parents? Well we run around with OUR arms in the air like we just don't care! Now seriously dude, THAT'S love!

And the thing about that love is that it's not just genuine, it's OVERWHELMINGLY genuine. You kid, are the best thing that's ever happened to either of us, and while we're both pretty verbose people, I'm not sure there's words for just HOW best you are. Because we get these spectacular moments with you that are pretty undefinable to anyone who isn't a parent.

We'll be laying on the couch alternating between reading stories and hanging you upside down [off the couch], and you, the most NON-CUDDLY child in the world, will now pause with your face right next to ours to let us smother you in kisses. And you'll smile the whole time we're doing it.

We'll be doing miscellaneous shit around the house, and at any random time, you'll run to us and bury your head in our legs, just waiting for us to smoosh you and love you and hold you. And then you'll shove us aside like we're in your way, and carry on with your day.

Or we'll be sternly reminding you, that "No, that's dangerous" as you approach the fire [in the fireplace] again and again and again, and sometimes, well sometimes you'll look back at us with that grin that says, "I'm sooooo gonna keep doing this all night, and you're sooooo not gonna stop me.".

And while yea, there were moments - no, make that MONTHS of moments - where having you was really freaking hard, there are now just so many more months of awesomeness that all your devil-child and donkey-boy ways while not forgotten, ARE, in fact, forgiven.

Because you boy, are the best thing in the world. You are everything we thought you'd be, and so much more. You make us feel pretty damn fortunate almost every day, and not just that we got so lucky as to have you, but that we get to be so lucky as to keep having you.

luv mama