to my beautiful boy on his first birthday

Dear Everett,

Today you turn one. As much as I have willed today not to happen, here it is. Miller and I woke you up this morning by singing "Happy Birthday" to you. You popped right up in your bed and gave us the biggest four-toothed grin. After your bath, we took Miller to school, and then went on a little trip to Target where I bought you a birthday present that you picked out. (Don't worry - you're only one. When you get older your birthday presents will be a surprise.) I'm still going to wrap it because I know that the wrapping paper will probably bring you more excitement than the actual present itself.

I'll find out on Monday at your one-year check-up how much you weigh and how tall you are, but you are still so small and so bald, and you still seem MUCH younger than one to me. Just this week you started crawling the right way about half of the time, and your shirts are thanking you for it. Despite my daily vacuuming efforts, you still manage to attract every stray crumb and dog hair on the front of your shirts. You still have just four teeth but based on your cranky behavior this week and your resistance to taking naps the past few days, I would not be surprised if you get more teeth soon. Your hair - what there is of it - is a light brown with blonde highlights. The exact same color that Miller's was at this age... so who knows what color it will end up. You have Miller's skin color, too. You actually remind me a lot of him at this age.

I can't believe that it was a whole year ago today that I was in the hospital getting ready to have you. Your brothers were so cute when they came in to see you... Miller was so excited to finally have his new little brother, and Gray was indifferent. Gray is not indifferent anymore, though. Now he enjoys sitting on you and singing you songs and calling you "Vaughny." Miller is still as enthralled with you as he was on that first day. Some mornings he'll get you out of your bed and bring you downstairs to me. He loves to play with you and he is always telling me how cute you are.

And even though I'm so sad you're not technically a baby anymore, I can't wait to see what the coming years will bring.

You were TOTALLY worth having to get a minivan.

love,
mommy