One Year Later

Dear Zackary:

Today you turn one year old. Just thinking about this fact makes me all misty eyed. One year ago today you were just a thought, a hope and a wish. Now here we are one year later and you are an entire person. Completely separate from me with your own thoughts, your own opinions and your own hopes and wishes.

For as long as I live I will never forget the events of one year ago. The memories may fade a little, and the details may not be quite as clear but I will always remember that on that day my entire world changed forever.

You entered the world at 5:12 PM on January 12th weighing in at 8 lbs and 20 inches long and making your mama kind of misty eyed at your ability to form right into that even number thing I have such an issue with. Some day you will question why when I turn the TV up or down it is always to an even number but for now you can just nod and smile because if Elmo is singing you could care less at what volume.

Luckily for us you were a great sleeper right from the start. Over half of the pictures I have of you from the first couple of weeks are of you sleeping. At the time I did not know exactly how lucky we were that you slept for 4 hour stretches and began sleeping through the night at 4 months and have never looked back.

Now, after speaking to several people, I am absolutely in LOVE with the fact that you go to bed between 6:00 & 7:00 and we do not hear a peep from you until 6:00 - 7:00 the next morning. Somehow, deep down, you know that your mommy & daddy are just not middle of the night people and thank you so, so much for figuring that out quickly.

You have, from the beginning, been such an easy child to get along with. If you cry it is because you need something. Usually, food, milk, or sleep, or perhaps the kitty cat that you just finally were able to reach and then he ran away.

Since the beginning when you have smiled you have smiled with your whole face. Your excitement about things, like Cheetos and waffles and banging things on the hardwood floor, is right there in the open. You have never hidden it and looking at your face tells someone all they need to know about your current mood.

You are passionate about the things you love and just as passionate about the things you hate. Your belly laugh can light up a whole room and the things that you find funny continually amaze me. When you get really tired you get really giggly. I guess that is a wonderful thing when I think about the alternative.

In fact you are usually much more apt to smile or laugh than you are to whine or cry. Perhaps that's because when you whine I whine back. And when you cry, well here's a little secret I'll share with just you...I laugh. Usually it's either that or cry with you and laughing tends to make you just look at me like woman... I'm really upset about this... can't you see that??

For the most part you are such a joy to be around that people regularly volunteer to watch you. This is great for mommy and daddy because it allows us to go places and eat. Regular meals. Without having to worry about what you are throwing at the people in the next booth over, or whether or not you will decide that today is the day that you no longer like grilled cheese sandwiches.

You also love to go to both Grandma Carol's house and Grandma Julie's house because they have kittens. And right now, kittens are your favorite play toys. You bat at them, they bat at you and they don't run away like those big cats when you pull on their ears or on their tail. Actually, all things considered, you are very gentle with animals. You will stick out your hands and let them sniff you and then you will "pat" them. Usually very gently.

We really hope that you have acquired our love of animals because like it or not you will be living under a roof with cats and dogs at least for the next 18 or so years. Hopefully not 25. I love ya kid... but at some point you will have to spread those wings!! :-)

You have enriched our lives in ways that we never knew possible and we can not imagine our lives with out you. We have so many dreams and wishes for you but in the end we will love you no matter where your heart takes you. (As long as it's not to Brittney Spears because really.... need I say more??)

We really hope that your next 100 years are filled with as many smiles and bouts of laughter as your first year has. Your daddy and I love you with all of our hearts and soles. Every night when I get off work I can't wait to rush home and see you. I hope that never changes, even when you are a teenager and too cool for your mom.

Love always,

Your mommy