eating birthday cake!

watching redskins play with daddy.

the cake i made for you.

birthday wagon ride!

one of your favorite things to do, climbing the stairs.

playing with birthday balloon.

playing with jungle gym from mommy and daddy!

on the metro with daddy. your expressions were exactly the same!

at the white house with mommy and daddy.

dear adam,

you are 1! i cannot BELIEVE that you have been with us more than a year now. at this time last year, you were just a tiny baby, new to our lives and to our home. we were just meeting and learning about each other. and now, i can't imagine life without you.

at this time last year, you spent most of your days and nights swaddled and held. you slept for little bits of time here and there in your little bassinet or in our arms. now, i'm lucky to hold you for very long before you are pushing off my chest to be let down. you want to continue exploring. you get all around our house with your little push toy and love climbing the stairs and under the dining room table. you still love beating things together and some of your favorite toys are the most simple things that make a nice sound when banged together.

last year at this time, you ate 2 or 4 ounces of breastmilk. and now, you eat EVERYTHING. you are such a good eater-- i have gotten this compliment for you many, many times from teachers and babysitters. we have switched to cow's milk for you now and you swig like a pro from sippy cups-- no more bottles! it was bittersweet to pack them away. yet another signal that you're no longer a little baby!

last year at this time, you slept in 2 or 3 hour chunks. your dad and i would take turns waking up. i would stay up late, feeding you at 11pm, while daddy would go to bed around 9pm. and then, i would wake up with you again around 3am. then daddy would wake up early to take care of you and feed you at 6am and 9am while i slept in. we had a good system! now, you continue to be a great sleeper. you always sleep 10-12 hours each night, unless we have to wake you early to go to school. you take naps at school with all the other children on a cot, which i still cannot believe! i don't know how they get you to stay put and sleep on cue! and, you usually take an early evening nap after school too (you're napping as i write this, in fact!).

at this time a year ago, you weighed around 7 or 8 lbs. though you weighed 8 at birth, you lost a little weight in the first couple days. now, at your last appt, you weighed in at 22lbs 10oz. tomorrow we have your 1 year old dr. appt and we'll know exactly how much you weigh. you were so tiny that even your newborn size clothes were huge on you when we brought you home. and now, you fill out size 18m. you're wearing true "big boy" sneakers now on a daily basis, since you go outside to play at school twice a day. these are your first "real" shoes and they're so cute at the end of your fat little legs.

you are waving more than ever, yesterday you waved bye-bye to the tv as you and daddy walked out the door! you wave on your own, without being prompted, as a way to say hello, which is just so sweet. you point at things you want or things that make you curious and we've taught you to raise just one finger when asked how old you are. you love to play peekaboo, putting a blanket over your face and popping out with a smile. you like to chase us and practice standing on your own. though you're not walking on your own, you will stand for a very short amount of time on your own when we let go of your hands. i know your first steps are on their way and i am certain you're going to give me lots of new wrinkles--both laugh lines and wrinkle creases!

we celebrated your birthday with your grandma, grandpa, mamama, pop pop, uncle lucas and some of mommy and daddy's friends. you ate lots of cake and played like crazy! your knees and hands were filthy for playing so much outside, i think i gave you the biggest bath of your little life!

adam, your daddy and i just wish for you to live a happy and full life. many times we have discussed that it doesn't matter to us what you do in life, just that you're happy, healthy, tolerant of all people and open to new ideas and things.

happy birthday, little sweetheart. we love you so very much!

(more photos and video at flickr.)