Letter to Garrett on his first birthday

Garrett,
I am a week late in writing this letter, but I suspect that in the grand scheme of things you won't hold that against me. Last week we celebrated your one-year birthday at our house in Boulder. It was a very quiet and small celebration attended by me, your dad, your sister Delaney, Nana, Pop Pop and our neighbors the Cutters. We had some fish, mac n cheese and then a lovely chocolate cake that you reveled in smashing everywhere. You received a small selection of toys and gifts from loved ones. The gift you most enjoy seems to be your big ride-on fire truck.

It's hard to believe that a year ago you came into this world, as this past year has gone by very fast. Your sister's first year did not go fast at all. In fact there were many days and months that crept by at a snail's pace. Your first year was by and large pretty effortless for everyone involved. It took me a few months to get into the swing of having two creatures around that demanded my attention. After that I feel like it was pretty smooth sailing. Delaney's first year was like a classical concert where the orchestra is warming up and experimenting with all different keys, notes, and volumes. Your first year was like the beginning of the concert where everyone is in sync. I want to thank you for making the first year of your life a very enjoyable one. It was not only relatively easy, but really fun to watch you grow. You are such a good natured fellow. I just put together a montage of a bunch of photos throughout your first year and it was almost hard to find one where your little cherub round face didn't look pleased or happy. If I had to pick one word to describe your first year I would pick happy. You were happy and the whole family was happy. I think that you made everyone's life around you better.

I'm sure you know by now that you share your birthday with your father. When I first got pregnant with you I immediately looked up our projected due date online and saw a date in late September. The first thing out of your father's mouth was "I bet he is going to come on my birthday." I never thought he was right but sure enough, when my water broke at 8pm the night before your father's birthday, he said "he's not letting me down. He's going to come on the 22nd!" I think it is wonderful that you two share a birthday. I hope that it will be a day where the two of you can be extra close through the years.

You absolutely LOVE your sister. It's been clear from a very early time that she was the apple of your eye. When you hear her voice you immediately turn in her direction. When she laughs you laugh. When she jumps you smile. When she bounces off the walls you watch in wonderment. It also helps that she loves to entertain you and show you the world. I am amazed that you actually survived your first year what with all the "care taking" that occurred. She was constantly trying to feed you, give you presents, show you how something worked, comfort you when you were crying, etc. Some of these had so much gusto that your dad and I would look at each other in fright after we had just rescued you from being carried, or dragged something out of your mouth that she had given you, etc. I have visions of the two of you getting into mischief when you are 5 and 7, and even more frightening when you are 15 and 17. You absolutely love your sister and the love you both have for each other is arguably my favorite thing in life. It brings me endless joy. It brings me the kind of joy that fills up my life jar of happiness with something so solid I am pretty sure it will never get depleted. There is no question that having two children is more work, but watching the two of you interact is so rewarding that it makes every chaotic moment worth it.

I suppose I should mention some milestones. You smiled at 6 weeks. You rolled over at 4 months. You sat up at 7 months. You ate your first baby food at 5 months and ate your first hard food at 7 months. Your first tooth came around 6 months. You took your own sweet time crawling (thank you) and finally found locomotion at 10 months. You have yet to really say a word although you have lots of sounds and love to say "uh oh". You have said "dada" and "mama" but not sure they have a real connection yet. Currently you love pointing at things and you are starting to get extremely interactive. Your favorite game is peek a boo and you have loved that game since you were about 5 months. Peek a book is such a silly little game, but you love it and I find myself playing it with you about once a day.

You have been on two plane rides, the first was to visit Nana and Pop Pop at Christmas. You took your second trip in March to San Francisco San Pancho in Mexico. We went with some friends, the Cutters, Boyds and Smiths. You were the youngest of the trip and did extremely well for most of it (save for a meltdown on the second plane ride home.) We took a long road trip in May to visit Moma and Grandpa in California. You did so well on this trip. It was 36 hours of driving (both ways) and I think you complained for maybe a half hour of the trip. All you had to occupy you were some good things to chew on and toys that make noise or light up.

You were born with lots of hair and I have had to cut it already three times. You love to smile. Your laugh is amazing and infectious. You love to be tickled. You love to be hoisted in the air. You love it when someone you know comes in the room. In fact you love company of any kind. If it's just you and I in the house, it doesn't matter if you are doing something really interesting, if I leave the room you follow me. Your sister followed because she wanted my attention. You follow because you want the company. A room filled with the family is your favorite place. You would never leave a room where all of your loved ones are hanging out.

This letter is definitely making you out to be something of an angelic figure, but there were times where you struggled or made life hard in the first year. You have not been a great eater and have made eating time an utter mess. You love to bat spoons out of people's hands and also love to throw all of your food on the floor. You spit up for most of your first 9 months and I mean a LOT of spit up. Our carpets and furniture will never be the same. And your sleep has been sporadic at times as you refuse to nap on schedule or occasionally do not sleep through the night. And one thing you share with your sister is your extreme pain and fussiness around teething. But most of those things are manageable and I am sure I will forget them over time.

You have been spending a few days a week at the Acorn school with your teachers Debbie and Liz since you were four months old. Just recently you started going full time so that I could go back to school and get a teaching credential. There have been many times when I picked you up at school where one of the staff pulled me aside to say how much they love you and either a), want to take you home, or b), want another child. Heck there was even a brief moment where I thought I might want another one, but I feel so complete with you and Delaney that I couldn't imagine adding another personality to the mix.

You love cars and any kind of toy that has wheels. Your favorite toys over the course of the year were your plastic rings, anything that crinkled, plastic cups, cars, and big items that you could bang to make a noise.

If I had to make a prediction now about what kind of boy and man you will become, I would venture that it will involve your kind and easy going personality. I think you will be sensitive and also a lot of fun. I think you will work with people and find ways to improve their lives. But only time will tell.

I'm looking forward to your first steps and your first words that are just around the corner. And to many more fun games, snuggles, laughs, giggles, and lots of time for me to teach you about the world. Thank you Garrett for being such a cool dude and laid back pal for the last year. I am looking forward to being a part of your life. You're the best, G Love, G Money, Garretty, G-rific, Geej, and Bubba.

Twelve beautiful hours

Garrett pulled one out on Saturday night. Twelve beautiful hours of uninterrupted sleep. He has a bit of a cold so I think some of his sleeping powers are attributed to him feeling under the weather, but now I know he can do it. I put him down to sleep at 7:15 and he did not stir to eat until 7:30 the next morning. Can you say AWESOME, BABY?!? I was in the best mood all day yesterday. That, combined with the fact that it's been spring in January here for the last 4 days, made for one happy Courtney all weekend.

Last night he pulled out 10 straight hours. So even though it wasn't a complete night, I am finally starting to get long straight blocks of sleep.

I love that little guy. He is absolutely the best.