Monday, August 10, 2009

Dear Jaxon,

Tomorrow is your first birthday and as I sit here reflecting about the whirlwind year we have had, I can't help but smile when I think of all you have learned and accomplished in this first year. They aren't things that are new to mankind by any means. Billions and billions of babies have done these very things over the course of human history but none of those babies were/are you and you are are mine. Everything you do is new to me and I am so very proud of you. From the moment I met you one year ago today I was impressed with so many things. How you could pick your head up at one day old. How you stared so intently in my eyes for what seemed like hours on end. How you appeared to grab your daddy's finger and smile in one of your very first pictures. All of these things amazed me and you were only one day old. Little did I know I was in for a whole year of dazzling and amazing things. I didn't know I could get so excited about you rolling over (at 3 weeks old) or about you smiling for the first time. Who knew these events in a person's life were so highly anticipated by their parents? I didn't. And that, my baby boy, is what this year has been...the fruition of one highly anticipated event after another. It has been non-stop and I love it! And I know that there is more to come for the rest of your life.

So my little man I thought that I would keep a family tradition alive through you. When your daddy and I first started dating we would send emails back and forth sharing little everyday things that we loved about each other. They were unique things about us and not big things...just little ones that we noticed and wanted to share. It was sweet (and a little lovey dovey) but it made my day whenever I got one from him. I thought that in honor of your birthday I would share what your daddy and I love about you.

Jaxon, we love the way:

- you try everything that is way beyond your ability and keep trying until you get it. Your ambition and persistence amaze us.

-you have so many types of laughs. There is your giggle, your heart felt laugh, your fake-I'm laughing for you laugh, your that tickles laugh, your Nelson from the Simpsons laugh (HA Ha), and so many more I can't name them all.

-you learn words by saying them over and over and over and over, sounding out the first letter until you get it right. Example: ffffffffffffan ffff ffff fff fan.

-you try to get attention or be cute by trying tricks you have learned or mastered a long time ago.

-you wake up, smile, and give momma kisses and hugs every morning.

-you giggle and squeal with delight whenever I lay you down to breastfeed after a long time apart.

-you point to everything and say "that" as if it is a question, request, and label all at the same time.

-you stick your tongue out right between your teeth when you laugh.

-you crawl away real fast when you know/think we are chasing you.

-you sign all done after a few bites of food to see if we will stop feeding you but we know you are still hungry and just don't like the food.

-you stick out your bottom lip oh so far whenever something upsets you.

-your hair sticks straight out to the sides just over your ear. No matter what we do it won't stay down.

-your nose is just like daddy's nose and your mouth is just like mommy's mouth.

-your eyes are so deep blue they are piercing and remarkable.

-you get the biggest smile whenever you see mommy or daddy at the end of the day or hear our voices on the phone.

-you kiss pictures of us whenever we are away from you and then turn over the frame to see where the rest of us are.

-you say "stop" when we are smooching you or cuddling you for too long and you have something better to do. It cracks me up.

-you say "yes" with a big smile when I say "no" sometimes.

-you open up your eyes when the "Color Song" is on and it she sings that she opens up her eyes.

-you sometimes crawl over while you are playing and get into my lap for hug.

-play peek-a-boo with anything made of cloth that is around you. On the same topic...we love when you put your head down and close your eyes when you have no cloth to hide behind and you act like we can't see you when you close your eyes.

-have all the teeth you have at such a young age (8!) and how when you smile they take up your whole mouth. We also love the little gaps in between each of the upper teeth.

-how you blink at people to flirt. You also drop things on the ground in restaurants in front of strangers to get their attention.

-you relentlessly and tirelessly chase the dog and he gives you no love in return yet you are still fascinated with him.

-you sneak up behind mommy and try to hide behind her but are really bad at it. It is so funny.

-you say "baba" and sign milk for anything that is a drink even when it is a sippy cup of water most of the time. Apparently all liquid is the same to you.

-you walk right now. You look like a drunken sailor. You make it to your destination but you are lacking style points.

-you hold the iPhone up to your ear to talk and babble when no one is there but when someone actually wants to talk to you on the other end you become silent.

-you can't have anything not in its proper place. If I put a Cookie Monster driving your tractor you go over and remove him because he doesn't belong there. Clearly the farmer drives the tractor. Duh mommy.

-you go and grab a book for us to read to you. Then you crawl into our lap and listen intently as we go page by page. I love that you are a reader already!

-you attempt to do everything. You really are Evil Knievel reincarnated and it scares me to death sometimes.

-you know your grandparents and want to be around them all the time. No one makes you laugh harder than Grandma Starr.

-you dance to the "Wiggle" song on Yo Gabba Gabba and try to hold still with your arm out like mommy does.

-your strong personality is already so apparent. Everyone tells us that we have the most curious, active, and smart little boy...and BOY will we be tired when you figure out walking/running on a regular basis. I can't help but smile when I hear that even though I know it is so true.

-you wake up sometimes and see me (mommy) and smile and go back to sleep. It makes me feel special like I make you happy and safe enough to sleep contently. It is the sweetest thing.

-you keep showing us all you can do and it never gets old.

-we can keep listing things but it would go on forever.

The point of the list Jaxon is for you to know that you are very loved and also appreciated for the unique person you are. I wouldn't change one little hair on your head. I am so excited to see what you will do and accomplish in our journey together called life.

Happy birthday my sweet boy. You are one and have done so much already!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

No comments: