Happy Birthday to you!

Dear Nikolai,

One year!  Can you believe it has been that long?  I know I can't because it has gone way too fast.  Although somewhat cliche, it feels like I just brought you home from the hospital yesterday.  When you were first born you were oh so quiet.  I recall the baby in the room next to ours cried and cried.  You?  Well, you just stared at me in wonder. 

The first few months with you were no picnic.  You, like the baby at the hospital, cried all the time.  We tried different bottles, different formula, different swaddles, different places.  We bounced you, swung you, patted your back.  Nothing.  Some days I swear you would cry the entire day.  You didn't sleep either.  I think sleeping 45 minutes at a time became the norm in our household. 

But, you also smiled, laughed, cooed and played.  Your eyes twinkled every time you saw something (or someone) you liked.  You loved being around your family and some days would only be calm in the car if your sister was sitting next to you.

As you grew, you became a happy, playful, vibrant little boy.  First you sat up, then you crawled.  You quickly figured out you could get the remote controls by pulling up on the couch and thereafter began cruising along anything that would hold you up. 

I remember your first steps - which came way too fast for me.  Nine months is for crawling, not walking.  But, once again, you figured out you could get into so much more stuff if you could walk to get it.  Congrats to you on this one - I hear you broke the family record for walking earliest (formerly held by your tia). 

With your new found mobile freedom came a decrease in crying.  I truly believe you just wanted to do so much stuff, yet did not know how to do it. 

You have officially ditched the bottle and the formula inside.  You can say mom (rather, it is "mum, muuuuummmmm") and dada.  You can say baba for your sippy cup and you call the cats (and your grandma's dog) kitty kitty.  You have recently learned how to clap while yelling "yay" and waive "hi" to other kids on the playground. 

I have watched you learn and grow so much in this past year, dear Nikolai.  And I cannot wait to watch you learn and grow for many, many years to come.

Mr. Nikolai, I cannot believe you are now ONE!

Happy birthday sweet baby!

Love,
Mom