Dear Landon,
Is it possible that it has already been a year since you came into our lives? It has gone by so fast, which is why I have tried to cherish every second that we've had with you. You are our little snuggle-bug; when you wake up in the morning and after naps you wrap your arms around my neck, bury your head in my neck and hold on so tight. I love these moments, where it is just the two of us and I can breathe in that baby smell and hold you in my arms. You are growing up so fast, too fast, but you are still very much a baby. My squishy, cuddly baby.
We celebrated your birthday with good friends and family. It was a lovely February day, warm enough to be outside but not so hot that we were begging for a relief from the heat. You had fun playing with all your baby friends, but your favorite part was definitely the cake. You'd had a practice run on your actual birthday with a cupcake- you left just a few crumbs behind so I knew you would dive right into your cake.
This is just one of the ways you are so different from your sister. She cried and cried and barely touched her cake, she hated us singing to her. But you took it all in and loved every second of it. Sometimes I look at the two of you playing together and think how similar you are, and then something happens to show me you are both very much individuals.
You are so curious, little boy. You love to explore new things. You've recently conquered the stairs and now the baby gate can't be opened without you making a beeline for it. You are a climber, too, which I think is adorable. You love to empty my bedside table and climb in the cubbyhole. You climb on top of your play table all the time. You get so proud of yourself when you climb up onto Savannah's bed, and just this last weekend you mnaged to climb your way up onto Mommy and Daddy's bed! Of course you have no concept of height and try to swing your legs over the side and slide down- which works fine on the couch but not so well up on a bed! But you'll get there.
We recently went to your 12 month appointment at the pediatrician. 18 pounds, 29 inches long. 3 pounds bigger than Savannah was at this age. I told your doctor that you really haven't changed all that much since you were born- still bald, toothless and not walking! You are working on the hair, slowly but surely, and have finally started cutting some teeth, though. Savannah got her first tooth 2 days before her first birthday so I was checking you constantly, but you did things in your own time and we found the first one 2 weeks after your birthday- and number two was just another week behind the first. As for the walking, well, you CAN do it you just aren't too sure about the whole balance thing. You have no problem walking holding my hands, or pushing one of your walking toys around the house but when it comes to taking those steps unassisted, well you usually drop to your bottom and crawl away.
You are a champion crawler though. Our friend Jeremy says that you are the fastest crawling baby he has ever seen! And he is right, you put your little head down and move your hands and knees so fast, it's no wonder you prefer to get around that way! I am always worried that you are going to crawl right into a wall, the way you get so serious about it. One of these days you will realize how much more fun it is upright and then a whole new world will be opened up to you. I can't wait to see you learn and grow.
You are so funny and so sweet. You love to give big hugs and big, open mouth kisses where you latch onto my jawbone. I love your kisses, they are so sweet but are starting to hurt now that you have little teeth poking out! You are most excited in the evening when your daddy walks through the door. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing you make a beeline for him. You love your Mama but you
live for those moments with your Daddy. It melts my heart to see you loving on him.
We love you so much, Landy. We pray that you will continue to grow and learn and love your life. We are so blessed because of you.
All my love,
Mama
