To my boy on (the day after) his first birthday

Dear Sweet Boy,

I cannot believe you are a year old. I can vividly remember the night you were born. I remember seeing your little hands and face and knowing you were the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.

This year has been wonderful and I have you to thank for that. I have loved every smile, every giggle, every spoonful of pureed peas.

I vividly remember the first time you laughed. The first time you tried to crawl. The first time you took a bite of food. (It was avocado. You loved it.)

And now that you're a year old I look back on all the long nights, the dirty diapers and the tears (yours and mine) and I know I will miss you being my little newborn.

I have been so blessed to be home with you. I have been so blessed to have time to just sit and hold you and let you be my baby.

But you will always, always, always be my baby. The joy of my life. The sweetest boy I have ever known. You will always be the first baby.

I look forward to watching you grow, to seeing you change.

I look forward to your first steps, the first time you read a word outloud, your first day of school. I look forward, but I can wait.

Feel free to stay little. Feel free to grow up slowly.

You will always have a place where you are loved, you will always have a place where you are celebrated. And you will always have a safe place to be yourself.

I love you,

Mama