525,600 Minutes

      At 12:23 am one year ago, the world changed forever.  I could never have guessed the joy you would bring me.  I could never have fathomed the new meaning you brought to life.

      I wanted you to wait just long enough for your Auntie, ScathingLawyer, to make it to us to watch your sister, but you were one step ahead of me.  As soon as you decided you were ready to come, you came fast.  From that point forward, you were always on a mission to get to the next thing.  You've been one step ahead of me every step of the way.

      You could hold your head up and support all your weight on your legs WAY before the books and articles said you'd be able to - darn near from day one!

      You wanted your first meal as soon as you hit the scene.  The umbilical cord was very short, and you were not thrilled about having to wait for the placenta to be delivered to eat.  I was afraid you were going to give me a hickey on my hip!  But it was only a few minutes, and you latched right on and haven't stopped eating since!  I don't think you ever dropped below your birth weight, and you gained a pound a week for quite a while.

      During our first few weeks together, I was a ball of concern.  I worried about everything - your feeding, my diet, your routine, mental and emotional stimulation.  But you were happy and content and eventually you (and Daddy) convinced me to chill out (mostly . . .).

      Before I knew it you had a mouth full of tiny teeth and were off crawling after the dogs every chance you got.  The owls on the mobile above your crib were your best friends, and you would babble to them happily every time I laid you down to change you.

      A year has passed in the blink of an eye, and I just can't believe it.  The tiny, quiet, slightly Asian looking little baby who would spit up on my chest 10 times a day is gone.  Now you're my little man.  My walking running, climbing, dancing little monster.

      You laugh all the time, especially at bellies - for whatever reason, and tongues.  You still love giving kisses - especially to Mama and you're getting pretty darn good at blowing them, too!  You are constantly on the move and HATE to be restrained.  You are into everything all. the. time.  That can be tiring, so you also like to just randomly lay on the floor for a few minutes here and there.

      You haven't eaten any meat and have had almost no dairy - just a little bit of cheese when you catch Mommy or Daddy eating it and possibly a couple bites of ice cream once or twice ;-).  You eat TONS of veggies (big shocker, I know).  You LOVE peas, lima beans, kale, and celery, but you eat just about any veggie we put in front of you.  Heck, you eat just about anything we put in front of you period.  Unless, of course, one of us happens to be eating something you think you'd rather have.

      I have done everything in my power to ensure you eat mostly organic, local foods.  You've had almost no processed foods at all.  We use only botanically based, environmentally safe cleaning products, and no one is allowed anywhere NEAR you if they've been smoking.  So imagine how much it thrills me that your two very favorite things in the world to eat are paper (the more bright colored ink and bleach the better!) and dog food.

      It has been quite a year.  It has been the best year of my life just having you in it.  Your smile is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life, and no matter what happens, just seeing you makes me feel better.  When I get home from work, and the dogs start barking, you immediately run to the windows and pound on them until I come in the house.  Its the best greeting ever.

      Yes, it has been a very big year for all of us.  Its a year you will have no memory of even though you're doomed to be regaled with stories of the time you peed in Daddy's eye for many, many years.  For me, it is a year I will never forget.  One that has changed my life and world forever.  One that has changed me all the way down to my very being.

      Happy Birthday, Little Flintstone!  Little MonChiChi.  Bubba.  StinkButt.  CuddleBump.  My little Mankins.

      You've turned me into a complete, raving sap.  And I couldn't be happier.