Dear David,

How are you possibly a year old? I feel like it was just yesterday I was waking up at 4:30AM with contractions starting, full of fear and excitement. I remember them telling me they hadn’t done a sonogram on a woman in active labor before and to walk the mall, but I could barely stand up before long. I remember holding your daddy and granmom’s hands through every contraction for hours until you finally decided to come meet us at 11:31pm that night. Wasn’t that just yesterday? The hardest, longest, most incredible day of my life can’t have possibly happened a year ago.

And yet, it was. And look at you now – you’re walking, pulling up on everything you can, trying to climb our stairs. You love Disney, Sing!, Octonauts, Sesame Street. You read books with mommy and daddy everyday. You’re such a food lover and you make it known if you’re not happy. You love us all so much and we love you even more. I’m so grateful every day that you’re here.

This year has flown by way too fast. Your first holidays have come and gone. Your little baby chubbiness has faded and you’re a lean, tall little boy. You’re babbling instead of just crying at us. You’re stronger and bigger every single day and I can’t believe it.

Being your mom is the hardest, most incredible job I’ve ever had the honor of holding. It’s hard every single day to find balance (as I’m writing this you’re pulling my phone off the couch and smacking my legs before your nap) but I do it because I love you. You’re such an inspiration to me. I can’t even begin to express how much I hope that you love us and become everything we hope for you. I love watching you learn and figure things out. I love watching you find your favorite toys or books and bring them to me. I love cuddling with you during bedtime and watching you squeal and laugh during bathtime. You find the joy in everything and I am so thankful for that.

David, I hope this world is good to you. I hope you’re good to it. I hope you grow up with a heart SO big and open to everyone and everything. I hope you learn that most people are good deep down and they deserve your respect and love. I hope that you stay open-minded and thoughtful. I hope you become strong and honest. I hope you find a world that inspires and delights you. I hope you live a life you’re proud of and if not, I hope you find the strength to start over again. (Thanks, Benjamin Button!). I hope you know we love you and can’t wait to see everything you become. I am so excited to watch you grow this next year. If it’s anything like this first year, it will go way too fast and I’ll cry a lot of it but we will have so much fun together, sweet boy. And I can’t wait.

Happy birthday, my love. I love you to the moon and back. Forever and always.

Your momma

A few of my favorite photos over the last year from our friends Stephanie Tignor Photography (pretty much everything) & Amanda Hedgepeth Photography (beach photos). The Santa photos are thanks to J. Ellis Photography!