Now You Are One...

(These adorable  pictures are some of the beautiful work by Traci! :) )

My Dear Sweet Baby Boy,

It's been a year now. Today, you turn one. How did this happen?? Where did the time go?? It seems like yesterday that I was sitting at a craft show feeling THE wave of nausea...the unmistakable wave. I smiled. I smiled all over inside and out...I knew exactly what that meant. I knew there was something happening. I tried not to get too excited, but the next day, while sitting at the craft show, I felt the same wave...and once again I smiled. I waited several days, just to be sure! It was the first time I took A TEST by myself...and there it was. Two lines. A yes. A positive. A baby was growing. Not just any baby, but YOU were growing. It was by far the easiest attained pregnancy and the best pregnancy I have had. I was happy. Purely happy the whole time. You had a big brother and sister who were so eager to meet you!! And Daddy, well Daddy LOVES his babies more than anything in this whole world, so eager, for him just doesn't seem to cover it! ;)
We chose not to find out if you were a boy or a girl before you were born, although, I will say, I did have a big feeling that a little boy was growing in there! ;) We added on to our house while you were growing in my belly. And in October, just in time, the addition was complete, and I could finally get your room ready. It wasn't a big room, but it was a room just for you! And then we just waited...and waited. I was induced on October 17, 2012. I was finally going to hold my baby, but for the first time, I was sad to see it end. I was sad to share you with the world. You had been all mine. I carried you everywhere. For those 39 weeks, my body had two hearts beating. And as badly as I wanted to see your face, after seeing how quickly your brother and sister grew, I knew that the time would just pass too fast! And, as you can see, it did! And it does!
You were a stubborn baby! And, 10 hours into labor, that there was no doubt you were a boy! That was a LOOONNNGG day! It had extreme highs and extreme lows...you even convinced me that I would need an epidural to finish the job! This is something none of the others have accomplished! But, I am extremely thankful, that as soon as I decided that, you got moving! ;) So, I didn't have to do it, and I once again experienced every second of the 16 hours of labor and delivery, all natural! That's always been important to me, and I am terrified of epidurals, so I am very thankful, now, looking back, that I made it! :) 16 hours! 16 hours is what it took for you to finally make your appearance...and when you did, it is a moment I will never ever forget! "It's a boy!". 8 pounds 3 ounces and 21 inches of pure baby boy love!
 With you, came a flood of emotions from Daddy, and unconditional love from Mommy. Immediate, overwhelming---love. Love, just because! Love just because you were ours. God had brought you into this world  for us to love. We could see your face, hear your cry, hold you close, and nurse you. You had finally arrived...our baby boy. The little brother.
You are pure sunshine. Your smile is radiant. Your love is pure. You are curious. Your giggle is contagious. You are deep belly laughter. You are wonderful. You are loved. You are determined. I don't know what your future holds, where you will go, what you will do, but I do know that I love you. I love you because you are you. I love you, just because. I love that you are silly and sweet. I love that your blue eyes shine. I love the bond you have with your brother and sister already. I love that you are here. I love that of all the people in the world God could have given you to, he chose us. He let you be the little brother here. And you have added sooo much wonderful! You hold my heart! And not just some of it, but the whole thing. When you were born, when we were no longer one, but I am sure...positively sure, a whole new heart took your place inside. My love was not divided, but multiplied! Happy Happy Birthday, to one of the most beautiful boys I know!!!!!

With All My Love,

Mommy <3