One.

Miles, 

It hasn't quite sunk in that you are one year old today. Even though I've spent hours looking back at pictures from the year (Guess who is up-to-date on the babybook!? No 2nd Child Syndrome here!), and even though you've grown, changed, and learned so much in the past twelve months, it still doesn't feel like you should already be One. 

It's been quite a year. You made your arrival a couple weeks early (you knew that whole Leap Year birthday would not have been cool). The early days were filled with lots of snuggling on the couch, or being held while watching your big sis play. As a family of four we settled into new routines. It felt easy - like you had always been a part of us. 

When the weather got warmer you were ready to start exploring your world. You love to be outdoors. By the end of summer you were splashing in pools, swinging, and sitting up to play in the sand or grass. You became a little traveler over the summer - going on family trips to Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri. You logged many miles in the stroller - happy (most of the time) to be out and about. 

In the fall, it seemed like you grew by the minute. You just took off. No longer content to simply watch your sister or cousins play, you joined in. You started eating anything we'd let you try. You wanted to be big. 

In your first year of life you witnessed the Cubs win the World Series. You probably learned a few new phrases from listening to your dad watch the games. 

You had a great first holiday season...bouncing around from get-together to get-together can tire out even the best of us, but you handled it all like a champ. You've learned to be tough and that's a good thing with your big sis. She loves hard and often forgets that even though you can crawl and walk to chase after her, that you are still a baby. 

Your expressions and words are some of our favorite sounds. You clap, blow raspberries, and play Patty-Cake. When we laugh, you laugh. You are our Smiles. You are small, yet mighty. You get into everything you shouldn't. Your favorite toys are not toys. You much prefer a dishwasher, a remote, or something you found in a cabinet. You want to climb, run, and wrestle. You move fast, but always start and end your days with cuddles with your mom. You cheer and throw your arms up when Daddy walks in the door. 

From the moment we met you, you have brought us joy. 
Happy First Birthday, Sweet Boy! We love you!