We're just one big family: Happy 1st Birthday Baby Boy!

Happy 1st Birthday Cole Nicholas!

Today is your birthday sweet baby boy. One year ago today, at 10:34pm I received the most precious gift ever! YOU! You are a dream come true, and more than I could ever imagine. I can remember the day you came into this world. Oh how it was a long, but wonderful day. It is amazing that you were the gift given to me, and the special baby picked out for this family! OH how I love you!

This last year has gone so fast, and has been so amazing!!! You have learned so much in your first year.

This month in particular you are getting more confidence in walking while holding onto things. It cracks everyone up seeing you walk with your little push toys! Everyone says you walk like a little old man with his walker.

You love to give kisses. It just makes me smile, and I probably say, Can I have kisses please, at least 20 times a day.

When you get real tired, all you want to do is have me or your daddy pick you up and hold you. You turn into our shoulders and tuck your little hands in and stick your tush out. This is one of our favorite times with you.

You are down to about 1 or 2 bottles a day, and will be dropping bottles this month.

You still love to say Uh Oh! And say HIiiiiii when someone walks in the room.

You weigh about 24lbs, and are in size 12-18month clothes, in some clothes you are wearing an 18-24 months, but they are still a little big. You are in size 4 diapers, and size 2 shoes :). Your eyes are getting darker, and are a hazel color, but somedays they still look blue. You are eating nothing but people food, and you really really enjoy it!!!

You started this new funny laugh that just makes us laugh, I can't describe it, but hope to get it on camera.

You got the flu, and were the sickest I have ever seen you with 104.0 fever! You took it like a champ,and were put on your first antibiotic - Amoxicillin.

So what did you do on your first birthday??

You woke up around 6:20am and Mommy came in and got you! We played for a bit on the floor, and then we made breakfast together. You helped me measure milk, watched me break 2 eggs, and stir pancake mix. When it came time to putting it on the stove you went into your highchair and watched my every move!

Daddy came downstairs right when the pancakes were about finished. Mommy made you a large special big boy pancake! It was an apple strudel one :) YUM!!! We song happy birthday to you and Mommy blew out your candle with Daddys help. You said hmmm the entire time you ate :)

In your car seat, stroller and high chair you always sit with your little ankles crossed. I love these little things about you -and never want to forget them.

After breakfast we took you downstairs to see your birthday present! You LOVED it and crawled right in!

Where is mommy?

SO COOL!

You started this new thing on Christmas morning, where you just love stuffed animals and attack them!

Daddy likes to think you are practicing to be a great football player! Mommy hopes you are practicing your goalie skills for soccer :)

After a little morning fun, we went to lunch and you had pizza (mommy's favorite food) for the first time, and ate it like a big boy with big bites! After a quick yummy lunch we were off to buy your dad a new car!!!! Your dad bought a 2009 Acadia. We joke and say you got a car on your first birthday, and your dad is just going to use it until you can drive ;)

After we got the car you and I went to the drs. You started to get a bad rash today, and I wanted to make sure it wasn't a reaction to antibiotics, and it isn't :) After the dr. appt we headed to grama and grandpaps for your birthday dinner and CAKE!

Then we opened presents!

Grama and Grandpap wrote the sweetest letters to you:

From Grama:

Dear Cole,

Did you know you would be born December 29th in the night? We called you teeny until that day. Did you know your name would become Cole Nicholas? Your eyes began real blue like your mommies but are now changing to brownish green?

Your hair would stand straight up in the back of your head like feathers. Did you know your little hands would be so so soft? Did you know you would like to eat with your left hand? That you squeal when you see your bottle?

Did you know that you crawl super duper fast especially when I chase you? You give the best kisses and when you smile it melts my heart ~ did you know that? You can also wave bye bye, give high fives and turn pages in your story books. You are so loved, can you feel that, do you know that?

As you turn 1 I want to tell you how much I love you and love spending Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays with you (Well, not Thursday now :( April watches you!). We play, sing, dance, and read so many books. Our walks are the best! The birds, trucks, and workers in the neighborhood all stop to chirp, honk, and yell hello to us!

As you turn one, know that you are loved so so much.

Love Grama.

From Grandpap:

Dear Cole,

Happy Birthday young man!

A year ago today you came into the world and our hearts. I can still picture your dad coming in to the waiting room, so proud, to announce your arrive. We then went in to see you and your mom. Your mom looked so tired but had this wonderful glow and smile on her face that I had never seen. I knew she was happy. She knew that she just brought something very special into our world. There you were... a tiny little fellow, not crying, but eyes open wondering what this world is all about. Your life had begun!

Over this past year I have had the great privilege of being there as you began to explore the world. My oh my how you have explored! Once you started crawling I told your mom and dad that things would never be the same and they have not. You just have more world to explore.

I can't begin to tell you how much I love you and want nothing but the best for you! As you continue life's journey, know that I will be there for you and your mom and dad.

My little guy...I am so proud to be your grandpap and always will

Love,

Grandpap :)

Here is the yummy dinner grama cooked for you! You LOVED IT!

Cake time!!! (the cake, oh my oh my! We got it at wegmans for you,and the lady did the 1 in the wrong direction, so we took it back and asked her to fix it. As we were checking out, we reliazed the lady put the one where the balloons were now upside down!