Just looking back at this blog reaffirms my feeling that this past year has been full of so many firsts, an incredible amount of love, and the growth of a bond between you and I that simply can't be explained in words or measured in any way shape or form.
For nine months and 2 weeks you grew inside me. I gave you shelter, kept you warm, and kept you safe from the world you were not ready to enter. Now, 365 days later, I still give you shelter, keep you warm and safe. I wrap my arms around you when you are hungry, tired, overwhelmed, or in need of reassurance. My arms provide you the comfort you desire and act as a barrier to the sometimes overstimulating world we live in. When my arms encircle you I feel your body relax, your tears subside, and your breathing become calm and consistent. In that moment I feel like the most powerful woman in the world.....it is in these moments I understand a mother's undying desire to always ensure the safety and security of her children no matter how old they are. As I hold and rock you at night I know that one day my arms will no longer encircle you and you will no longer fit in my lap. So, on this night - more so than others I will hold you just a bit longer before putting you down to sleep.
In this last year you have taught me more about myself than I ever knew before. You have shown me that I am strong and I am brave - but most importantly you have taught your mother what it means to love unconditionally and without hesitation. You are my greatest accomplishment Conor - the thing in life I am most proud of. For this I will always be grateful.
While your Mommy has spent the last year learning about herself - you have spent the last year growing! You entered this world at 8lbs. 10.6 oz and one year later you are weighing in at 20lbs 5oz. You have grown roughly 8.5 inches. You spent your first week in newborn sized clothing and you are now wearing mostly 12 months and some 12-18. You have a size 4.5W foot that is no longer covered in cute little booties but wears Stride Rite shoes. You were born such a little round ball of pudge but now - you are lean. There are very few rolls left to be seen - your ankles, wrists, and knees are still undefined but the rest of you looks less and less like a baby and more and more like a toddler by the day.
Your blue eyes have grayed but your hair remains a ruddy brown. Many people marvel over the fact that your hair has the same highlights and lowlights that mine does and I love that we share that trait. Some strangers consider you to have auburn hair as it appears quite red in certain lights - your eyebrows have yet to come in so your true hair color remains to be seen.
You have your Grandma Mary's nose and at times your Grandma Janet's smile. You hair texture comes from your Grandpa Dennis but your profile and mannerisms are 100% your Grandpa Tom (you could be his twin). You are stubborn (like your Daddy) but smart and you are kind. You are a perfect combination of all the members of your family and they all love you so very much.
In one year you have learned to hold your head up, to push up on your arm, to sit, to crawl, to stand, to walk and to run. You have learned to eat with a spoon (though you sometimes miss) and therefore you have gone from just milk to sharing meals with Mommy and Daddy (sometimes). You drink from a straw and love water. You are a social butterfly and love eating in restaurants. You are not a napper and not the best sleeper but I know it won't be like this forever so for now, I cherish the extra time late at night or early in the morning that I get with you (though sometimes even I forget this when I am really tired).
You don't have a special comfort item or a favorite toy but you LOVE books. You are an avid reader and always want to bring books every where you go. You love your wagon and most recently your sled. You observe the world around you so carefully I always wonder what you are thinking and can't wait for the day when your words come easily and fluidly. When you were born you could barely utter a sound other than a strained cry and now you laugh, yell, and have an ever growing vocabulary (dad, hunter, mamma, read, book, duck, quack, moo, yes, this, up). You are learning to sign "more" and "milk". You communicate by pointing and waiting for us to follow you. You still love baths.
One of the memories I will never forget from this year Conor is when you were learning to walk. You would hold my fingers so tightly and in the other hand you would hold a tiny leaf, stick, or little treasure - as though it was helping you to keep your balance. It reminded me so much of the moment in Dumbo when he is learning to fly and he holds tight to a feather. Now, barely a week later you have taken flight and you have left my fingers and your "feather" behind. But not matter how far you go you will always be that "Baby of Mine."
Happy FIRST Birthday to my Sweet Baby Boy.......thank you for choosing me to be your Mommy!
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| 12.14.2011 - 11:47pm seconds old. |
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| 12.14.2012 - 11:42pm - Happy Birthday Conor! |
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| 12.15.2011 - 2:15pm (not even 24 hours old) |
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| 12.14.2012 - 10:30am Birthday Boy! |
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| 12.14.2012 - 1 year old |
