To start, we call Liam, "Boofie"... why?, you ask? Good question. It started as "Boofah" which I began calling him at about 3 months and which Daniel initially said made no sense. Soon, though, he joined right in. Then, over time, it was "Boof", "Boofer", "Boofie", "The Boofiest." He is called "Boofie" more often than "Liam." I know it's weird but I think we will call him that until he is an adult. It just suits him so well at this point. His personality is just "booftastic." His face is just the most "boofnicient" thing I have ever seen. He and Daniel have a song (to the tune of "I'm Sexy and I Know It") which goes, "Look at this baby..., I'm Boofie and I know it... I take naps!" (This may not be exactly right, and I am sure Daniel will correct me, but you get the idea.) In the past year he has, in our eyes, begun to epitomize all that is boofie! His personality, which a year ago, was nonexistent as he slept and ate... and pooped is a quirky, energetic, silly mixture of Daniel and I. He is a dancing machine, a banana eater, a green bean hater, Mike the Knight enthusiast who loves anyone who is wearing a RED shirt. His little personality has gotten cuter and funnier on each of the past 365 days. Which brings me to the point - our precious little 7 lb 8 oz. love bug has grown into an almost 30 lb. crawling, cruising, babbling, ONE YEAR OLD.
This past year has been unbelievable. When he was born I couldn't imagine loving him more than I did in those first days... but, somehow, it happened! I love him more each day. He becomes more and more of a little person with each passing hour, day, week and month and he gets cuter, funnier and returns our abundance of love with kisses, hugs and giggles. He is a love machine, truly. : )
The love just keeps expanding like a big balloon.
When I found out I was pregnant again I had days that I was worried that Liam would get shafted or that I could never love another child the same way that I love him but now, looking at my precious one year old boy, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the love in this family is just going to keep GROWING as our sons do. I can't wait to re-live all of the milestones we have experienced with Liam with his little brother. I can't wait to watch Liam teach and model for Derek all of the skills that he has already mastered. Next year, on Liam's birthday he will have a 9 month old brother to celebrate right alongside him! My heart feels so full just thinking about it.
Parenting is tough stuff and not for the faint of heart and this past year has been super challenging and even terrifying somedays. There have been the weeks when Liam was sick and no one was sleeping. There have been trips to the grocery store when Liam cried the whole trip or I had to change two poopy diapers in the car. There have been the days when he ate his own poop or the poop ended up on my shirt or his shirt or both. There have been some rough days as a SAHM when I was just plain bored and lonely. But, at the end of this year, looking back, my mind's eye sees more smiles and hugs and kisses than screams and cries, more banana faces than poop faces and more wonderful, happy mornings than sleepless nights. Would I do it all over again? Of course... and that's all that matters.
So for all you moms (and dads) out there who are at your wit's end today... just remember... there's always tomorrow... and the next day... and the next day... and someday these special little creatures will be grown ups with their own families and houses and lives. Each birthday, a wonderful celebration, will be bittersweet (I sobbed this evening during his bath) because each birthday signifies that they are one year older, stronger and more independent. So hug them tight, love them deeply and try to take it in. If you forgot to do that today, it's OK. Some days I forget too. Today happened to be VERY SPECIAL.
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