One Year Old!

Jack, what a long way you have come! You went from this:

To this:

You were yelling at Mommy in this picture. Little man, it's your birthday! You are one whole year old today. At officially 7:38pm, you will be one. I can't believe just how far you have come.

You are officially walking......er......running. People keep telling me that I am going to have to watch you because you are going to get into everything. What they don't know is that you have already been in to everything. From the time you could pull yourself up, you could get into nearly anything in reach. You aren't getting into more things now, it's just that you are much faster about it.

I was thinking back to last year at this very time and I was laying in my hospital bed waiting for you to arrive. When you did, you swept me away with your love. It sounds cheesy, but I love you more than I ever thought I would. People say "just wait", but I had no clue. I honestly can say that I love you more each day and that you are constantly amazing me.

I am biased, but I think you are very smart. You know what toys go where. For example, the other day I found a ball under the coffee table. When I gave it to you, you went to your toybin and pulled out your dumptruck and put that very ball in the back of the dumptruck. You knew that particular ball went with the dumptruck. This wasn't a fluke either. You had played with balls earlier in the day and didn't put any of them into the truck.

You are still saying "Mama" and "Dada" and occasionally "Nana" and "Papa". It really melts my heart when you reach up to me and call me by name. You try and say other words, but it's still babble. Pretty soon little man! Pretty soon.

You climb, stand up in the middle of the floor, push your car all around, play with toys, and are very active! A ball of energy you are. People are constantly telling me just how active and busy you are. I wouldn't want it any other way. I love that you are curious.

Doors seem to be a very favorite thing lately. You love to open cabinet doors, desk drawers, the door at the play structure at church. Any door is your friend. I practice saying "open" and "closed" with you. Maybe you will say it back to me soon.

The last few days, you have become very gentle with the kitties. You don't pull tails as much, and don't smack them, but instead, pet them gently. It's very sweet.

You love to nuzzle and play coy with everybody, even me! Last week, I brought you over to the mirror and you leaned your head in and played shy with yourself. It was very cute! I wonder if you knew that it was you in the mirror?

Jack Emmett, we love you. So many people love you and are amazed by you. I can't believe you are 1 today. It seems so big. I can't call you a baby anymore. You are officially a toddler. That makes it very bittersweet for me.

I need to stop typing before I cry. I love you Jack Jack.