One

Happy first birthday, Micah! Today you’re one, and I can’t believe how fast you’ve grown. I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday.

You were so eager to meet us that Mommy almost gave birth to you in the car (thanks for staying in there for an extra 15 minutes… the car thanks you as well)! As soon as we met you, we knew you were more relaxed than your big brother. And that made us more relaxed, too. Over the past year, you’ve gone from a completely helpless newborn to a very happy, playful, determined baby.

Your first social smile was at three weeks and I’m happy to take credit for being the one who triggered it. Your first word was “baba” (more like “BA BA BA BAAAHH!”) and even though that bothered your mother a little bit, inwardly I was very proud.

In the mornings, despite the fact that I don’t particularly enjoy how you belly flop onto my face while I’m still sleeping, and then proceed to claw my eyes out with your razor-sharp baby nails, I like to think of it as some kind of sign of affection.

Your teeth came in early, which I suppose foreshadowed your favorite activity: eating. Just try to keep in mind that biting food is a good thing, but biting people is not. Your mother and I are not your chew toys, no matter how funny you may think it is to see our reaction when you chomp on our flesh.

All in all, it’s been a fun year. You’re now sharing a room with your brother, asserting yourself and your preferences more often, and vocalizing your feelings with all sorts of interesting sounds. Thanks for reminding us of God’s grace in our lives, and for giving us the daily joys and challenges of being parents.

In your little one-year-old heart and mind, I hope you know how much we love you, and how much we long to give our lives away for your sake.

Love,

Mama and Baba