one year

there's something about a baby turning ONE....you are our eighth bubba to make that transition...and it's no less special, just because it's been done before.

how can you not marvel at the change from this:

to this:

ER - you are such a joy to us. We all love you. Your sparkly eyes, your cheeky grin, your serious contemplations, your contentedness, your slobbery kisses.

Your older brothers and sisters like to snuggle with you, play peek-a-boo, read stories, take you for rides in the trolley, encourage you to *talk* and teach you new tricks.
I like to watch you learn.....I'm keeping a record of your language development (something that I haven't done for any of the others, but I'm doing it specially for you). At the moment you can sign "more" when you think you're starving and you say eye-eye (goodbye) and ah-yo (hello). Mostly you're quiet, but when you pick up a book you chatter at it. You've just learnt to climb the stairs and to stand up by yourself. You love to go to bed at night (and during the day, for that matter!). You drink raw goat's milk and eat whatever we're eating (though no lollies till you're two - dem's da rules round here!). You clap when you hear fast music and sometimes when we're revising memory verses. You watch and engage.

You love to be held.

Darling, this is one of my favourite photos. My hand will be there for you to hold as long as you need to. Even when you are big enough to let go, our hearts will be connected.