It is hard to believe that you are one year old today. A year and a few days ago it seemed like you were never going to make your grand entrance. But, of course you did and we have been so blessed to have shared this past year with you. 
We had a little bit of a rough start, but you don't seem to be any worse for the wear. Four days after you were born (and only one day after you came home) we were back in the hospital for dehydration. It was a hard thing to watch my tiny little boy get poked over and over again (6 times to be exact) with a needle while the nurses tried to get an IV in you (and they didn't succeed until trying again the next morning). You took it like a champ though. You hardly cried while I sobbed in my chair.
We had a little bit of a rough start, but you don't seem to be any worse for the wear. Four days after you were born (and only one day after you came home) we were back in the hospital for dehydration. It was a hard thing to watch my tiny little boy get poked over and over again (6 times to be exact) with a needle while the nurses tried to get an IV in you (and they didn't succeed until trying again the next morning). You took it like a champ though. You hardly cried while I sobbed in my chair. After you came home again there were many doctors appointments and then surgery (at 6 weeks old) to fix your tongue tie. After surgery things slowly got to the way it should have been from the start.
From the beginning you have been a very active little boy which both worries and excites me about what to look forward to in the future. You're dad called you "Mr. Wigglely" for a long time right from the start as you would lay on your back and kick like crazy all the time. You were so focused on being active that you found naps to be a waste of time. You would cry for hours to avoid falling asleep. I tried everything to try and get you to take naps. For a very brief time you would sleep in your swing. You soon figured out that it made you fall asleep and then hated it with a passion. Finally, 9 months later, you would only cry for 5 minutes when we put you down. In just that last couple of days you will lay in your bed holding "Mr. Blue Dog" and go to sleep without any tears.
You will let anyone hold you, but then you become the most serious baby I have ever seen. It takes you a while to warm up to others, but when you do we can't get a word in edgewise. You jabber all the time and make the hand and arm motions to go with like you are telling some grand story. We think your first word was "dog", but then you stopped saying it. "Dog" was soon followed by "Buh OUT" (Buck Out!) Poor Buck was told "out" no matter where he was. Now you say "da da" (which can be me or your dad), "ma ma" (only when you are very upset), "stop", "don't", "buh" (Buck) and of course "out".
You also have all the makings of being the class clown when you get older. You love to make others laugh. You do cheesy smiles, make silly noises, and if we ask "are you being silly?" you giggle and do it some more. For a while you would fake cough because everyone thought it was funny. You make fish face kisses and give great big open mouth kisses. You give the best hugs ever. You open your arms wide, then wrap them around the shoulder and give lots of pats on the back. 
You also love animals. When we brought home the baby chicks you squealed and kicked and wanted to pet them (you were only 5 months old). You crawl all over Buck and really like to examine his wrinkled face and his feet. You give him nice pats too. You love to ride the horses, you've ridden all three of them already. As soon as we put you up there you grab onto the mane, lift your legs up like a little jockey, smile and giggle the whole way. When your ride is over you give the horse pats on the neck. You are not afraid of any dogs as you will crawl around in a room filled with six 50 - 100 lb dogs at Grandma & Grandpa's house with no problem.
We've done a little bit of traveling. You've made some trips to Grandma & Grandpa's in Young and gone camping on the elk and javelina hunts. After all these trips we finally figured out how to get you to sleep in the camp trailer - you have to have your own bedroll.
This year has been spent with lots of family get togethers and it is not hard to tell that you have very many people who love you. What's not to love? Things that you love right now are dancing, music, your animals, baths, playing in the dirt, "Mr. Blue Dog", spaghetti, books, working with Dad, and most of all your family (Mom, Dad, Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and all the Greats too). We love you very much and can't wait to continue to watch you grow and grow with you on this life's journey. Love you forever,
Mom
