To My Son

Dear Ethan Michael,

Today is the day before your 1st birthday. You are crawling around on the floor as I type this wearing your adorable jean overalls and a blue striped onesie. I just moved you away from the buffet table in the dining room because you were opening and closing the doors and banging them repeatedly. All you did was grin at me and move on to the next bit of mischief. At Gram's today, you climbed the entire flight of stairs all by yourself. You now have 4 teeth but no words. I took you to see Dr. Torres yesterday afternoon and he said you had a double ear infection. Luckily, he gave you some medicine and I know you are already starting to feel better.

Your birthday party is tomorrow. Gram and Grampa will be there and so will Nanny and Pop, Aunt Debbie, and Jay and Allie. A few more of Mommy and Daddy's friends are coming to help celebrate too. Auntie Anne and Uncle Mike (and cousins Dylan and Garrett) wanted to come down from Massachusetts, but Uncle Mike had to travel for his job. Daddy and I ordered you a cake and some balloons too, and you have a special shirt to wear so that everyone knows it's your birthday.

Your first year of life has been one full of adjustment, learning, anxiety, worry, laughter, and tears but most of all love. Together, you, me, and Daddy survived countless colicky nights, bouts of severe reflux, a visit to the Emergency Room when you were 3 months old, and many, many colds. The first time you rolled over, Daddy and I were so excited that we just had to share the news and we called Gram and Gramp in Florida to tell them. I remember how proud I was the first time you sat up by yourself and the first time you crawled, the first time you pulled yourself up, and the first time you walked with your walker. Watching you discover the world is a precious gift I've been given.

I know one day (sooner rather than later), you'll turn into a young man and you will be embarrassed of me, and my hugs and kisses will be things you tolerate rather than yearn for. Even then, I hope you always remember how very much you are cherished and loved, how Daddy and my world would not be complete without you in it. We want you to grow up happy and healthy; we want you to choose a career that makes you excited to go to work everyday; we want you to surround yourself with the love of family and friends. We know you'll make mistakes on your journey (as we all do), but learn from those mistakes and let them teach you to become a better person.

Ethan, I love you. Such a simple statement yet filled with more emotion than I could ever begin to describe.

Happy 1st Birthday little guy!