Caleb's 1st Birthday!

This little bundle of joy turned ONE today!!!

Words can't express the joy that Caleb Ryan brings to our family. 

When I saw this picture I remembered that moment like it was last night.

We are the happiest parents in the world here.

One year later we still look like this when we hold him.

This last year just flew by with him.

It seemed each day brought a new milestone he was reaching.

This morning I made banana pancakes and we sang him Happy Birthday with a 1 candle in his pancake.

A little after 5:30 this evening after Jake gave Caleb a bath he brought him to me naked wrapped in his bath towel and he said, "Mrs.Tracy it's a boy!" It was like reliving that day again, at the exact time, just one year later and with a much bigger baby who weighs over 20 pounds, who's little eyes were peeking at me through the towel. I melted inside.

Caleb is doing everything a one year old does, except walking on his own yet. He walks along the couches though and is pretty proud of that fact.

He loves to play patty-cake, he loves to clap his hands, he loves to wave, but his wave is more of a "stop" action with his arm up, hand out, and no movement.

He says dada, mama and baba but can recognize many other words like brother or Jonathon, which he immediately cracks a smile when I say his big brother's name.

He crawls up the stairs now, so the gates are going up.

He loves to laugh and play toys with us and crawl after everyone.

Most of all he loves to eat.... everything... which I am so thankful for! 

He loves everything from avocados and tomatoes to bbq chicken :)

Tonight as I rocked him and sang lullabies I reflected on his birth day and all the highlights of his first year.

I was in there for a while.

I didn't want to let him go, to let him be one, heading towards two, I want him to stay a baby.

As I was singing every primary song that I could think of from the song book, I laughed at how Caleb is growing out of the rocking, even though I keep doing it every night.

He flips from his tummy to his back, sits up, talks, tries to bite my fingers with his five teeth, grabs my hair, snuggles into my neck, etc. So not a tiny still baby anymore during our bedtime routine.

If I was to use one word to describe this last year of caring for him and watching him grow, it would be

Gratitude

Jake and I are so grateful to have him, for the peace he brought us after losing Ryan. 

For the joy that filled our hearts after our hearts were completely broken.

For being able to hold him as long as we wanted because we knew what it felt like to have to let go.

For his perfect healthy condition when we were scared.

Every single day in 2010 was a blessing with him.

We are having his big birthday bash tomorrow night at the tracy castle.

I enjoyed every minute planning it, because I didn't get to throw a first birthday for Ryan, so I kind of feel like I'm doing it for both of them :)

Pictures of the partay to come! Oh yeah!