Saturday, November 17, 2007

Your First Year

Dear Evan,

This time last year, we were getting ready to bring you home from the hospital. We were excited, naive, scared, overwhelmed, and in love all at the same time. I can't say that learning to be a parent has always been easy, but you've made the process more rewarding and often humorous than I could have hoped for. You've been spirited and strong-willed since delivery, and those traits only became more evident once you got mobile! Sometimes those qualities make us laugh because we know you got them from us.

You went to the doctor yesterday - you weigh 27 lbs and you're 32 inches long. Hard to believe that in this picture you were only 8 lbs 2 oz and 22 inches. I remember how I felt when I first saw you - I couldn't believe how perfect you were. I wanted more than anything to be a good mother and I couldn't wait to start getting to know you. Now you're a year old, and I'm excited to think about how much more of you there is to learn!

Your mom still has plans to complete your scrapbook, but here's a quick review of your milestones...By one month you were cooing and at six weeks you had your first cold, first smile, and slept your first night in your crib. You rolled over from tummy to back for the first time and slept through the night at 3 months. Just before 4 months we heard your first laugh. At 4 1/2 months you rolled over from back to tummy and started eating rice cereal - you loved it! By 5 months you were sitting up very well and at 6 months you outgrew your infant car seat, got your first tooth, and started eating table food. At 6 1/2 months you started crawling and shortly after at 7 months you pulled yourself up. By 8 months you were cruising and mommy and daddy were using the word "no" a lot more often, subsequently, you also threw your first temper tantrum around that time. You started walking at 10 months and these days there's hardly anything you can't do.

You love to be down running around and you do so many incredible things. You dance, clap, build with your blocks, and give high fives. You talk all the time, if only we knew what you were saying, and you love to eat. One of my favorite things to do is get out a toy you didn't fully understand only a few weeks ago and watch how you figure it out.

This first year has been such an amazing journey. We've loved watching you learn every new thing, and I can't wait to see how you'll change and grow in the upcoming months. You've enriched our lives more than I can put in words, and we pray everyday that we will be good parents. You may not be our "baby" anymore, but there's still nothing we enjoy more than holding you close. We love you, Evan. Happy Birthday!

4 comments:

Kelly said...

Very cute picture! He's a little boy now :)

Maya said...

Happy Birthday Evan! It has been so cool to see you grow and see your parents grow into such loving parents!

Anonymous said...

great pic. contrasts! i hope he enjoyed his b-day party!

Lauren Stahl said...

Happy Birthday Evan, You sure have grown, that is for sure :-) We can't wait to have more play dates with you and your mom!