Declan,

Well, I've been looking forward to, and dreading this day since they day you were born baby boy!  I laid you down last night, after holding you an extra 20 minutes, for the last time as a baby.  You wake up this morning as a big one year old.  {sob}.  It seems like it was just last month you were born, yet at the same time it really does seem like last year.  When I think about the fact that you are now one, I can't help to think how fast your first year went.  However, at the same time, I really took a step back and savored your first year.  All your firsts, and there are yet still so many we get to experience, all your snuggles, all your 'babiness.'  You complete our family just perfectly little man.

You are a very easy going guy.  You truck around with us from place to place without even making us skip a beat.  However, I have to admit, your first three months in the car really scared me.  You're self scheduled schedule also scared me.  You hated your carseat, and when you were ready for bed, you were ready for bed.  And that was exactly 7:30 each and every night.  However, we had full nights at the soccer field, that didn't even end till 7:30.  Oh, and don't get me started on the car rides.  It made for some very intense trips there and back.  But after you hit 3 months we all figured it out, and you fit like a glove.  In fact now, you'll even go all the way up to Lancaster wide awake, and just enjoy the scenery.  You're a champ.

You are still nursing, and like to try new foods.  You'll try just about anything we give you.  You pretty much completely skipped baby food.  But there are some of the squeezable pouch purees that you'll eat, and still eat to this day.  We started you on yogurt 2 weeks ago, and you love it!  We'll start making the milk transition as soon as you see the Dr. for your 12 month check up.

You are fully walking.  Sometimes running.  You love being sung too, and your favorite song is Itsy Bitsy Spider.  You know all the hand signals.  You're not all that much into baby signs, but your favorite signs are 'All Done' and 'Bath.'  And speaking of Bath.  It's your favorite time of the night.  When you are done eating, you immediately go to the gate at the bottom of the stairs, and sign to us the 'bath' sign.

You love to wave to everyone and everything.  You love your momma.  But I'm sure Daddy will be your favorite, just like your brothers.  That usually happens when I stop nursing.  HA!  This week, you just learned where your belly is, and like to lift up your shirt to show us when we ask, "Where's your Belly?"  You like to try to talk as well.  If your in the mood, you will try new words that we ask you to say something.  You really don't have a favorite word, but I swear we've heard your say, "Jake" (as in Jake and the Neverland Pirates), Dadda, Mamma, "Chuck".

Up until 3 weeks ago, you have been our worse sleeper.  You were still waking up 2 maybe three times a night.  Just to nurse, you would never really wake up.  But after you nursed, you would like to be held.  But out of the blue, all of a sudden, as of about three weeks ago, you've started going 9 and 10 hours.  All though, I miss our midnight snuggles, I'm thankful for more sleep.  It just means you're getting older, so that kind of makes me sad.

And up until just this week, when Liam would take a toy from you, you would just causally move onto another toy.  But now you are starting to stick up for yourself and you'll put up a little fight for it.  You'll either hold onto it tighter so he can't take it, or you'll go over to him and take it back!

You make us smile everyday, you make us laugh everyday.  I love walking in the door and having you run to me.  I love that you love to give me kisses before I leave in the morning.  We love your easy going spirit.  You're growing independency scares me, but only because every bit you learn and gain just means one more step towards toddlerhood.  The idea of not having a 'baby' in our house makes me sad.

We love you more than we could ever begin to even tell you.  You and your brothers could never imagine the love we have for you all.

xoxo, Mommy.