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December 06, 2004
Happy Birthday, Gustav
Gus, today you are one. ONE! A whole year has past, which feels both long and short. Look how you've changed!
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Gus, you've gone through three hair colors (and baldness).
You've gone from gray eyes to bright blue eyes to green/brown eyes.
You've gone from looking like your Papa to looking even more like your Papa.
You started by nursing every two or three hours, to gulping ounces and ounces a time, to pureed sweet potatoes, to Cheerios, to this evening, where you ate salmon, peas and rice.
You went from sponge baths, to baths where you were lying in a net, to baths where you sit and splash, to baths where you stand up, flashing your cute butt to the world.
You went from being carried around in a carrier, to being carried to your rear-facing car seat, to today sitting forward for the very first time, the joy of newness evident in your face.
Gus, we thought you were going to have teeth at four months, but they went back in and then waited another six or seven months before your first teeth came through. Teething has not been fun, and now the teeth are coming in more frequently.
You've traveled to Iowa by plane twice, by car three times. You've been to Washington DC and Cinncinnati. You've been all over the city and the suburbs, too. Is there a beach with a big umbrella in your future? I hope so!
You've gone from cooing, to babbling, to saying Mama and A-Da, to signing Zeppo.
You love to point and inquisitively ask what things are by saying what sounds like "What is that?"
You went from sleeping in your cradle, to sleeping with us, to waking up through the night, to finally sleeping through the night at seven months. That was a beautiful night for us!
You've gone from scaring Zeppo to being her best food friend. She is your partner in meals, there to pick up after you. She totally has your back.
You've beccome quite the snuggler and hugger. When you're in bed with us in the morning, you'll crawl up to my head and snuggle your head against my neck. So precious.
Ah, your hands. Once you discovered them, they became your teething ring of choice. You are either chewing on your finger, pointing at something, or crawling over to something to climb.
Speaking of climbing... you went from no movement to rolling to commando crawling to actual crawling to pulling yourself up. In fact, you stood without holding on to anything for a few seconds the other day. I had a heart attack. I'm not ready for walking yet, although you love to walk and run when we hold your hands.
All of these things are facts. They are part of your natural progression into toddlerhood. What is harder to capture, harder to quantify, is the enormous impact you've had on our lives. Gus, I simply can't imagine life without you. Thinking back on this day a year ago, it was full of hope, full of the unknown. We had no idea what it would truly be like to be parents. We did a lot of reading in preparation, but in the end it just comes down to being there for you and making sure we're doing right by you.
We love you, Gus. Thank you for coming to us this day a year ago. You've been the best thing to happen to us. We can't wait to see what will be next with you.
xoxo
mama + papa
Posted by janna at December 6, 2004 10:35 PM