Happy Birthday, Braden!

My sweet little boy,
It's hard to believe a year has already passed with you in our lives. You've grown so much and I look forward to what the future has in store for you. You are my earliest walker (10 1/2 months) but still not a talker. You get in to trouble daily but always make a funny face and we laugh it off. I can never stay mad at you for long. You bring a smile to my face every day. I can already tell how loving and caring you are. If Sister is upset you will go to her and try to make her feel better by giving her loves. Though you love playing in water, you hate getting it on your face. You love when we get in to tickle fights and blow raspberries on your tummy. You are my bottomless pit of a child, you will eat just about anything and large amounts of it.

You are our Mr. Independent. From a young age you decided you could do it all yourself. You were never really my cuddle boy. I had heard so much about how boys loved their moms so deeply and though I do believe you love me. It's just not the overly attached that I've heard so much about. From the moment you could hold your own bottle (5 months) you no longer wanted to be held while you were fed. No rocking to sleep. No late night cuddles. You could do it all your own. I swear if you could change your own diaper you would as well. I wonder where this quality will take you in life. Will you have the same drive as your Father to constantly be perfecting yourself and working hard to support your family? I know that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. You love to be outside which is a huge change from your sister the homebody.

There was a time shortly after you were born that I was freaking out A LOT. Hormones suck! I was worried how I would take care of TWO children on no sleep and make sure you both felt loved. I stayed up at night crying because breastfeeding hurt, my body hurt, and emotionally I felt so drained by this tiny boy who wanted to eat ALL the time. I remember sitting on the edge of the bed just praying for help and strength. When I was finished Madison woke from a deep sleep and came over to me and said "It's going to be ok, Mom". My heart burst. I knew it was. I was just so worried I couldn't do it all. I knew the first year was the hardest and each week would count down 51...50...49...48...etc. Because I knew if I could make it through this first year the rest would be a easier. Well at some point, I stopped counting. Things got easier. I got the hang of things. I learned what it meant to be a mother of two. Not every day was sunshine and rainbows but we survived. We did it together. You are a sweet baby. You gave me strength when I was weak. Remember who you are Mr Independent, I know you will do great things in this world.

Love,
Mom