For Spencer

It's your birthday, my boy!

Last year on this day, I woke around 2am laboring. Your dad and I weren't sure at first if it was the real deal or not. You weren't "due" for another week. The contractions were hard, but not very close together. "Let's try to rest," I suggested. But since "resting" meant lying together fully alert, silently staring at Daddy's watch every time my body tightened up, we finally gave it up. "You charge the camera," I said to your father, "I'll pack a bag."

We stepped outside our apartment around 6am. The September sky, still dark, was full of hopeful, rosy hues. The sun would rise soon. I felt a tear slip from my eye.

More tears came later when I heard your first cry.
You were our miracle.

And now a year has passed (a year!).

You're still our miracle. But now you're also our "Bub," our "Spud," our "Spence," and our "Cub." And our Mess. I'm amazed at the way you sort through food on your high chair tray. You work at lightning speed, picking up, assessing, eating or immediately discarding (onto the floor) every piece of food.

Messes, however, are not your only mischief. Lately you've been involving your newly cut teeth in our nursing sessions. The sharp, "No!" I initially gave you - the same one that brought your sister at a similar age to tears and compliance - was a joke that you giggled, and continue to giggle, about.

In spite of your bite, you are so dear. You're busy, and bright, and curious. You quack like a duck and "ooo, ooo, ooo!" like a monkey. You're impatient when hungry (cue: screaming), but most often good natured and super much fun (cue: laughing).

You love the zoo animals hanging in our closet, the elephants over your bed, the bears ("eres!") above the rocking chair, the tiny mouse in Goodnight Moon, and Eric Carle's "very busy spider." You love bananas ("num! num!") , and avocados. Most of all you love your dad & big sis.

And we all love you! (Lucy said to me just a few days ago, "Oh, I just like him to pieces!") Thanks for all the smiles you've brought, son!

Happy First Birthday!