12 months

Dear Boone,

I don't even know where to start. As you turn one today, how can I begin to describe to you all that is rushing my mind and flooding my heart? I think only when you are a parent, will you ever really know. Years later whenever you read these words, you're just going to think I'm being gushy. Before you were born, I heard parents talk about their children and thought "Oh, that's nice. They really love their kid. How sweet."

I had no idea.

You officially entered our world on Labor Day. I had joked for weeks, ha ha, what if I go into labor ON Labor Day? Wouldn't that be hilarious. Ironically, this Monday, eight days before your due date, turned out to be the one that God had planned before the beginning of time for us to see your sweet face and hold your 8 pound body in our arms.

This past month has been one of my favorites of all, save a five-day span where you came down with a nasty fever/virus/cold/ear infection.  But even the sickness had a bright side - all you wanted to do was snuggle. The first day you were really sick, you were happy to be on my lap for SIX hours, straight. Besides the horribleness of the fever, it was one of the most fun days ever for me as your mom!

When your fever hit 101, we took you to an after-hours clinic where they told us you had an ear infection and prescribed an antibiotic. I wasn't thrilled about putting you on it, but wanted to do whatever I could to help you feel better. Over the next couple of days, your attitude was pretty awful. It was obvious that you were miserable and nothing I did seemed to help. I began to suspect that the antibiotic wasn't agreeing with you, so at your doctor's permission, we stopped giving it to you. Almost immediately you were back to normal. Probably won't be trying an antibiotic again for a while...

At the beginning of this month, we had to leave you behind when we went on an Alaskan cruise with Mimi and Aunt Abby and Uncle Adam. Up until a couple of weeks beforehand, we were planning to take you with us. But the more we thought through the logistics of it, the more we realized that we would be taking you for our best interest, not yours.

So, because we love YOU even more than we love being with you, we made the decision to let you stay with Gramma Beanie and Chip. You had a blast and never skipped a beat. Your dad and I missed you like crazy every second but were thankful you were happy and in a familiar place with people you love.

Lately you've been even more verbal, plainly speaking "dawk dawk dawk" (dog) and "uh-oh" as well as many other assorted gibberishes. Occasionally we'll hear "mama" or "bye" with a little wave of your hand. Although you may not be speaking a ton of words, we can tell your understanding is increasing by leaps and bounds.

Stuffed animals are the love of your life right now. Your biggest and most favorite (Sheepie, Mr. Seal, Sleep Sheep, Rabbit) are on a quilt on your bedroom floor, and you're quite content to roll around with them for 30 minutes at a time! And you like animals on screen too - Curious George (the movie) stops you dead in your tracks. The 3-minute lead in song is about all you'll sit still to see, but you love watching George interact with the jungle animals and bounce up and down to the music, giggling. You are so stinking cute.

Speaking of music, you have a beat in your blood. You absolutely feel it. The other night Gramma Beanie put some fun songs on for you and you were wiggling all over the place. We started dancing along with you and when you saw us you were horrified! You protested and whined and crawled behind the couch so you couldn't see us. Then you slowly crawled back out, slightly bouncing and refusing to look at us! Ha ha! You wanted to dance by yourself, you little stinker! Already embarrassed by your mom.

Peek-a-boo has always been a favorite game, but you've started initiating it a LOT, hiding behind your beloved blankie and waiting for us to notice and say "where's Boone?" I would play it with you for an hour if you wanted to. You're kind of irresistible!

Your Great-Aunt Sheryl gave you your first haircut about a week ago - you sat on my lap the whole time and did really well. She didn't have to cut much, just a little trim where you were getting a sort of mullet in the back. You are looking more and more like a little boy every day!

Walking is still to come, and we are just fine with that. I told your dad today that this crawling stage has been so fun - I will continue to relish it until you decide you'd rather move on your feet than your knees. It's enabled you to move yourself but you're still limited as to what you can get into. Walking is bound to bring significantly more bumps, bruises and messes.

Things I should record:
 - 20 pounds (9th %)
 - 29.5 inches (43rd %)
 - have two bottom teeth
 - eat breakfast, lunch and dinner - mostly finger foods with a few purees
 - three bottles: one first thing in the morning, one around lunch or before afternoon nap, one right before bed  = 18 ounces
 - wake-up: 7-7:30 am / bedtime: 8-8:30 pm
 - morning nap: 9:30 am / afternoon nap: 2:30 pm (1-1.5 hours each)

After an unbelievable 12 months with you, your dad and I love you fiercely, sweetheart. Beyond reason. Without condition. "More than most of all whole universe." Nothing will ever, ever change that. This is love for a lifetime. Happy one year birthday!