Micah is one

Micah,

I have to be honest that I don't remember very much clearly from when you first joined us. The doctor gave me medicine that made me very sleepy and weak, but I remember hearing you cry. I thanked God that you were healthy and breathing so well.

When I was in the hospital after having you, I would actually look forward to when I could feed you in the middle of the night. They would bring you back to our room and I would feed you. Then, I would snuggle with you for awhile. You'd rest next to me. In fact, for the first few months of your life, I loved to take little naps with you snuggling next to me. When you would stir, you'd open your eyes and see me lying right next to you, and you would peacefully go right back to sleep. I would sometimes just watch you and listen to your little baby snores.

You were a beautiful from the moment you were born. You had a head full of hair and pretty eyes. I was so proud of you when people met you. I was always told how handsome you were!

You've done everything at your own interesting pace this year. You took your first independent steps at 10 months and were walking at 11 months. You got your teeth at 6 months, but you always got two at a time, and never in any normal order. In fact, you had a full molar before your bottom front, side teeth came in. You certainly are taking your time with talking too!

Your favorite things were balls, crawling backward, the vaccum cleaner, eating paper (we had to hide all the trash cans on top of high objects), stuffed animals, hair--pulling it (ouch!), screaming--you had to be heard over Carter, avocados, Gerber puffs (you would have nothing to do with Cheerios), taking your socks off at any possible time, and throwing food.

We call you destructo because you like to . . . well, destroy things. Boy do I have to keep my eye on you! : )

I love you so much, buddy. I love how you laugh at doggies with a deep, belly laugh. I love how you pretend to talk to mommy on the phone. I love how you cuddle and smile when you see me in the morning. I love how you smile when you do something mischievous. I love how you wiggle out of any seat belt created. I love how you think clapping "Yaaaaay!" also means "all done."

I can already see gifts God has given you--boldness, affection for others, a sense of humor . . . and traits which you will need to ask God to help you contain--impatience and tempermentalism (you can thank mommy for that). I am already praying God may be the focus of your life, that your might belong to Him through repentance and faith, and that He might use you mightily!

You are a sweet, sweet boy--a gift from God to your daddy and me. You are more than worth every late night feeding, every stretch mark, every tired arm, every eaten piece of paper, and any inconvenience. I wouldn't trade your smiles, laughs, cuddles, hugs, kisses and love to change any of those things. We love you, Micah man. Happy first year to you, buddy. Thank you for the blessing you are!