Sweet Liam,
You are now a year old. It's a really weird feeling for your dad and I both. Sometimes it feels like it was just minutes ago that we found out you were going to join our family, and sometimes it seems like you have been with us forever. We talked about it the other day, and we are sure that Oliver doesn't remember life before you. We remember it, but we wouldn't go back to it. Because you are a delight and a joy and we just cannot get enough of you.
Your first year started with a bang. Less than a day after you were born, I was really sick. We had to stay in the hospital for a few extra days in order to get my fever under control. You were ready to go home,but I wasn't. When we got you home, though, you ended up with a horrible yeast rash and thrush because of the medicines I was on. It was a rough time, and your Grandma Keller and Granma Cook took such good care of us. Your grandparents were smitten with you from the get-go. You have had them wrapped around your finger from the moment they laid eyes on you. We spent those first few weeks of life figuring out how to be your parents, and learning how to administer medicine via IV. It was a crazy time. Daddy and I celebrated our fourth anniversary when you were just nine days old...and I'll have you know that eating sushi on the couch with your daddy while you slept a few feet away was pretty much my idea of perfection.
You are a study in contrasts, my dear boy. You are either incredibly difficult or an absolute delight. You had some terrible stomach problems and a touch of colic in your first weeks, and it was rough. Then you were magically better. Then you refused to nap. Then it was magically better. You have always been a good night sleeper, and for that we are thankful. Even now, at a year old, you are stubborn and strong willed and you scream like the dickens, but you are so sweet and loving. You love to give kisses and you like to climb all over us. Your laugh is the sweetest sound to me. You give your laughs and smiles your all...no holding back for my boy.
You love to play, and to play hard. You like throwing things, and you likes balls and wooden toys and anything that makes noise. Pounding on things is your favorite game. You also like to open doors...and close them. Sometimes you shut yourself in your bedroom and you scream because you don't want to be in there. You are recently obsessed with the toilet and the toilet paper, so we lock you out of the bathroom. You like to climb, and you are completely fearless. You are trying to walk, but you aren't quite there yet.
You hate sleeping away from home. We spent a lot of time away from home last fall, and it was rough. Your grandpa Cook had lung cancer, and had to have one of his lungs removed. There were a lot of complications, and he was in the hospital for over a month. We spent a lot of weekends at their house, and you didn't always handle that well. Your dad was gone a lot of nights, too, which killed him. But your presence, my sweet boy, was one of the best things for your grandparents. They carried a picture of you with them wherever they were. They told the doctors and the nurses that Grandpa was going to beat cancer for you. You were their number one. They love you so much, sweet boy. Your very life was an encouragement and a blessing to them through one of the hardest periods of their life.
Your Grandma Keller is the one person who can get you to fall asleep away from home. She can rock you and hold you and you will pass right out. Your Grandpa Keller plays rocket ship with you and will do whatever you want. You love them both so much, and they cannot get enough of you.
Liam, so much happened this year. We had so many of your firsts—first road trip (to your Grandma and Grandpa Cook for 4th of July...you screamed like a banshee from Columbus to North Vernon...we pulled over on the side of the road and gave you a bottle and you pooped and we changed your diaper in the backseat), your first Halloween (you were a dinosaur in a homemade costume), first Thanksgiving (we went to Grandma and Granddad's), your first Christmas (you did not love opening presents, but you sure liked playing with them after). First tooth (bottom right, came in March), first wedding (Mariah and Kory), and so many more. This winter was mild, so we only had snow one time, and I put you in a laundry basket to sled around the yard. You never loved baby food and by the time you were eight months old you were eating table food only. You love mango, avocados, rice, noodles, ground meat of any kind, and your favorite is broccoli. You ate salmon a week before your birthday and loved it. Your palette is quite varied.
Liam, your dad and I love you so much. We pray that you will grow up to be a man who loves the Lord. I want you to know that you are created for a purpose, and I want you to seek after God. I pray that he will be the Lord of your life, and that you will love him with all your heart.
Happy birthday sweetheart. I love you.
Mommy
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