And Now You Are One

Dear William,

On the 27th, you turned one year old, and I am still having a hard time believing it. I guess I have to accept that you aren't really a baby anymore but are officially moving into the "toddler" stage of life. You now walk everywhere, rarely crawling to get from one place to another. You will always be my little baby though.

You are so much fun to watch - every day you surprise us with what you have learned or can do. Yesterday, we realized that you have, in fact, spoken your first word - "Daddy." You definitely put those two sounds together when you are walking toward or see your daddy. (We need to work on Mommy, little one!) You can wave bye-bye and just recently learned to clap and give fives (so adorable). Watching you play with all your toys is amazing. You know how to turn all the switches and push all the buttons (one of your favorite things to do). You can throw the ball into the hoop or pass a ball to us. You love to dance to music and, while you used to bop back and forth with your upper body, now you will pick your feet up and bop back and forth with your whole body while you are standing. I love to see you dance!

You don't eat baby food anymore - yea! Your taste buds have widened to accept most table food. Pizza and cheese seem to be your favorite food - you truly are my son! You've tried shrimp and liked it. The Christmas holidays had you trying Grandma's famous chip and dip, which you loved, and Christmas sugar cookies - yum! We've even started weaning you off of your formula. (Thank goodness, because sweetie, I don't know why you like it - it smells so bad!!) Although the pediatrician said some babies take a while to like milk, you tasted it for the first time yesterday, smacked your lips and smiled! The days of your milk protein intolerance issues are long gone - thank goodness!!

Although you never have been, and probably never will be, a napper, you are fabulous at sleeping through the night. Since you were about 6 months old, you have not done the late night waking thing. And now you sleep a good solid 12 hours usually. You go to bed by 7:30 and will usually sleep until 7 or 7:30 if we let you. In fact, a couple times over the holidays you slept till 8 or 8:30!

I know you will really look like a toddler soon because I noticed on Friday two white teeth popping through your gums. You're about to get your two front teeth! I must say, I am really going to miss your big gummy smile. (I guess that is why you were more irritable and fussy over Christmas - not only was there so much excitement and stimultation, but you were cutting teeth!)

You really are a very happy baby - you smile much more than you cry. Even when you are sick, you don't let it slow you down or put a damper on your attitude. You love to goof off, play games, and make people laugh. You are definitely not a laid back baby - you like to constantly be doing something and moving around, which I guess is why you learned to walk early. Although keeping up with you can be really tough and exhausting, the minute you turn around and reach for a big hug, or crack a big smile at me when I come in the room, my heart melts.

I love you so very much little William. Happy Birthday!!