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Happy 1st Birthday, Brayden!

Dear Brayden,
You turn one year old today! If I thought your brother's first year went by fast, then your's positively moved at light speed. Wasn't it just last week that we were meeting you for the first time?


I guess it has been a whole year since that day and my, have you grown!


1 week

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

Your first year has brought us joyful days and sleepless nights. You have provided endless entertainment for your big brother and sweet snuggles for your Mommy and Daddy. You love to be held and while at times it has been a bit inconvenient to do so (such as dinner time or 11:00 at night), I treasure the fact that my touch can calm and console you. I call you my little woodpecker, because when you are in a silly mood, you will peck at my shoulder like a little bird. You are a ticklish little boy and laugh so hard when we give you rasberries on your tummy. You have learned to give them right back, which makes me laugh too. You say "Mama" and "Dada" but I'm not convinced you know what those sounds mean, but very soon I'm sure you will. You are so close to walking. All you need is a little confidence and then you are going to take this world by a storm. The outdoors call to you. The moment someone opens the front door, you beeline that way, eager to escape outside and explore all of God's creation. When we dare to bring you back inside, you loudly protest. Besides Mommy and Daddy, Benjamin is your best friend, and I love watching you break into a smile whenever you see him.

This day is bittersweet for me, Brayden. You see, even though I love watching you grow and eagerly look forward to all that you will do in the coming days, months, and years, I am sad that your baby days are over. You are our last baby, so if I hang on to you a little too tightly, please try to understand that I am not trying to hold you back from experiencing all that life has to offer, but rather I am simply trying to hold on to you.

I love you, my sweet baby boy...

Love,
Mommy

P.S. Here are some pictures of your birthday party! The theme was "Winter One-derland", complete with snowflakes, hot soup, a photo timeline of your first year, and a snowman cake made just for you.










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