Happy Birthday Noah

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

-Winnie the Pooh

It turns out that this silly old bear was very wise, despite having a head full of stuffing. One year ago the doctors handed us a tiny baby boy that filled a space in our hearts that we didn't even know was there. I thought I knew what it meant to love before that day. But the love you have for your child is different, as is the love they have for you. He can melt my heart in an instant and has shown me what it means to be truly blessed.

It has been a year of learning and development for Noah, and for us as parents. I don't mind admitting that I was scared to death when we brought him home. I've never really been around babies and was convinced that I was going to completely mess everything up. I have prayed daily for patience, both with Noah and myself, as I figure out what it means to be a mother. Luckily, Noah was a great baby and didn't make things too hard on us. We have both learned so much in the last year. When you have someone who is completely dependent on you for survival, you learn quickly.

We have watched Noah change so much and so quickly over the past year. We watched him learn to roll over, how to crawl, and then how to walk. We watched him become more aware of us and his surroundings. We loved seeing his first smile, and our hearts grew four sizes when we heard his first laugh.We cheered when he learned to clap his hands, and how to eat solid foods. We listen daily as he tries out his voice, without any volume control, and await the day that he starts to talk.

At one, Noah is very curious. Wherever you are, that's where he wants to be. He wants to open doors and drawers to see what's behind them. He is energetic. He is so silly. He likes to be tickled and his laugh has changed into a real little boy laugh that makes you smile no matter what kind of day you've had. He has three teeth, with a fourth one working its way onto the scene. He has already had his first haircut, and now needs a second. He also recently enjoyed his first trip to the beach.

He loves to be outside, and enjoys trying to chase our neighbor's cat. He likes to pick up leaves...not the big green ones, but the tiny brown ones. He likes to stand in Daddy's lap and drive his car around the cul-de-sac. He loves cheerios and music. He's recently started dancing a little more when he hears music. He loves to pull his books off the shelf, and sometimes hides small toys behind them. He is fascinated by all the remotes in the house and will sometimes hide those, too.

When we brought Noah home, we both came to the startling realization that it would never again just be the two of us. Now, a year later, we can't imagine life without him. We are a family now. I never dreamed that this tiny person could change my life so completely. He is such a blessings, and I thank God for sending him to us. This first year has been amazing, and I can't wait to see what happens next.