Happy 1st Birthday, Andrew!

Dear Andrew,

Today is a big day.  Today marks one year since you came screaming into our lives and stole our hearts.  At 11:05 AM on March 26, 2011 I learned that love at first sight does in fact exist when you made your debut into this world.  The nine months of daydreaming about you did nothing to prepare me for the overwhelming love I would feel when I first saw you. One look at your beautiful blue eyes was all it took for me to know that I would do whatever it takes to protect you for the rest of my life.

It has been an amazing year.  Watching you grow every day as you learn new things has been more wonderful than I ever could have imagined. But you aren't the only one who is learning. You have taught me so much this year as well.

One thing that I've never been is patient, but you have taught me sit back and enjoy life.  Just sitting with you and watching you explore and play has brought me so much joy.  To see the look of wonder on your face when you discover something new and to hear your big belly laughs when you think something is funny makes me smile so big I feel like my face might crack.

On countless occasions I have found myself sitting back and just watching you.  Watching you play, watching you explore, watching you grow.  And even though it makes me sad that you are no longer my tiny little baby it also makes me so proud that you are my son.  I know that there are great things in store for you.  I know that you are going to be an amazing person and I can't wait to see who that person is.  But that doesn't mean that I want you to become that person too fast! I feel like this first year has gone by in the blink of an eye.

There is so much that I am looking forward to experiencing with you and I want to make sure that I can enjoy every single second of it.  And I want to enjoy every single second of you.  You have been the best and most amazing thing to ever happen to me - to us.  Your daddy and I love you more than words can ever adequately express and you have made our lives so full and happy that it's hard to remember life without you.

So happy birthday my little munchkin.  May this next year be even better than the first and may you continue to laugh and learn and grow on your way to becoming the amazing little boy I know you are destined to be.

I love you with all my heart.
Mommy