Dear Noah

Dear Noah,

A year ago today, you came into this world and we learned that you were a boy and had a fantastic set of lungs.  From the very moment of your arrival it has been nothing short of an amazing adventure.

You have grown up so much in the last year it is hard to believe that you once fit in the crook of my arm.  When your muscles were too weak to hold you up we would prop you among the pillows on the couch, and this morning you sat next to me while you drank your milk and I my coffee.  I have watched with great interest as your personality has appeared and you have become your own little person who knows, for the most part, what he wants and can in your own way tell us.  From army crawling to cruising you have kept me and the dog on our toes as you have explored every inch of the house; now we wait with baited breath for you to take your first steps and to move your already quick pace up yet another notch.

We gave you your first bath on the kitchen counter. You screamed the entire time.  Now you hardly fit into your little whale shaped tub and the only reason you get out of the water is because we make you.  In your first three months you screamed whenever we put you onto your belly and now you lie down to look under the bedroom door at the cat sticking his paw out from the other side.  You know what it means when I tell you we are going to go for a walk and you love to wave at the passing cars and people as we go along. Your squeal of delight when your mom comes home brings a smile to my face each and every time.  The way you wave from the front window as one of us leaves does the same.

I have watched you grow and change each and every day and I am so happy that I was laid off. I cannot think of anything I would rather be doing. This year I have had some hard times , but everything seems ok each  time you wrap your little arms around my neck and give me a hug or fall asleep in my lap. This coming year will be filled with an entire new set of adventures that I cannot wait to experience with you.  Being a dad certainly is the ultimate rush.

I Love you, Noah. Happy Birthday.

Luf,
Daddy