Tonight I’ll veer from the path of writing about our travels with our little ones. Because tonight it’s about something so much more important. One year ago today, we became a family a four and welcomed the most amazing little man into our lives.

We rocked a little longer than usual tonight. Not because I was trying to soak up every last ounce of babyhood, but because I was thinking about all of the moments I’m looking forward to with him in the future.

So we rocked. And we rocked. And we rocked.

While I’ve noticed a lot of differences between my first baby and my second, the biggest is this.  With your first every experience is new and such a high. With your second, the highs turn into wisdom and while you still appreciate each one you know just how much better it’s going to keep getting.

Bodie, it’s been an incredible year with you in it. But I know it’s about to get even better.  There are so many things I’m looking forward to as you grow, but these are just a few.

I look forward to:

• Seeing your infectious smile with each passing day. As your personality kicks into gear, I know you’ll continue to wow us just by being you.
• Being inspired by your chill personality and continuing to remember what’s important in life.
• Being the recipient of your big hugs and kisses and feeling like the luckiest person in the world.
• Hearing your sweet first words which will turn into sentences followed little chats at bedtime.
• Watching you in imaginative play and wondering what’s going through that cute little head of yours.
• Watching your relationship with your sister grow and seeing you build friendships with others.
• Witnessing you outgrowing me in no time. Let’s face it, it won’t take long. Your sister is already half way there.
• Seeing what your interests will be, what your strengths are, and what gets you excited to jump out of bed in the morning.
• Watching as you experience all of your firsts on those future trips I have planned for us, like airplanes, oceans, mountains and camping.
• Seeing you grow into the amazing human that has made my life exponentially better just be being in it.

Bodie,  always know that you can change the world just by being YOU. After all, you are what changed mine.  I never could have imagined what it would be like to have a son. And I’m so thankful for the chance to be your mom. 

I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first time I read the book “I’ll Love You Forever” to you.  We were rocking in your room and with every page more tears kept flowing down my cheek.  No matter how big you get, you will always be that sweet little guy that I’m so incredibly in awe with. 

So, Bodie in honor of your birthday it’s just as true as the book says.

I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
as long as I’m living,
my baby you’ll be.

Happy Birthday, Bodie. I couldn’t imagine loving you any more.