Beckett Laughlin - 1 Year

A year ago this week I was in a state of shock and awe. (Sorry if that conjured up images of the last presidential administration for you.) Beckett, all pink and with a lopsided head, came to us three weeks early. I had only washed the cloth diapers that day and my parents had to finish putting his room together while we were in the hospital. It was an awesome surprise.

 9/27/10

The last year has been chalk full of cliches. It is true that you have never loved anyone or thing as much as your own child. It is true that watching them grow and become independent before your eyes makes time pass at a frightening pace. And it is true that when you have a helpless being under your care you begin to worry about things you wouldn't have thought twice about in your childless years. There have also been surprises - too many to even mention. (What? All babies don't just go to sleep? You actually have to bounce them down EVERY time?) What has become clear over the last year is how much I was missing before I had Beckett in my life. I look back on my twenties and (very) early 30's with fondness, but I had no idea how much more fulfilled I could feel as a person.

 9/27/11

And so he grows. There are still only the two bottom teeth, which are so cute I don't care if he ever gets any more. He stands for long stretches and cruises around the furniture, but no independent steps just yet. Today I think I almost had him saying "more" to ask for more cheese. It sounded like "ma-r." He's got "mama" and "dada" down pat and pulls them out when he wants to tug on our heart strings especially hard. Speaking of patting, he enjoys beating on just about everything he can get his hands on. Lord help the neighborhood girls if he plays the drums, he already has blue eyes and blond hair, they wouldn't stand a chance.

Happy Birthday, Beckett. Thank you for teaching me so much over this first year of our lives together. I hope I can return the favor.