Happy Birthday Landon

Landon,
Wow! I can't believe it's been a year since I first held you in my arms. All of you as perfect as can be down to your ten little fingers and ten little toes. How you have grown in these past months. From needing me and your daddy for everything. In fact you needed so much that we had tons of help to try to comfort and calm you down in the first few months. Aunt Peggy, Grammy, Aunt Jilly, and Dede were familiar faces to you from the beginning. Your reflux and hernias seemed to make your first four months miserable. Not sure if you truly had colic or not as you seemed to cry nonstop. You were rocked, held, worn, shooshed, swayed, and swaddled all in an attempt to make you feel better. Your daddy and I took shifts caring for you. I got to rest from 1-4 am while you and Daddy got acquainted. The first three months you lived in your swing in the basement while we took turns sleeping on the couch beside you. I tried something I said I would never do.... co sleeping... until your pediatrician scared me into putting you back into your swing. At around 5 months you were doing better and we had moved you into your bed. We eventually had to do with you what we did with your older brother and let you cry it out. It really wasn't too bad on you. While daddy was out of town I helped you to learn that you didn't need to wake up every 45minutes to an hour. After two nights you were sleeping 12 hours a night and boy everyone was thrilled with these. You turned into such a happy baby although you do have a serious side to you. You learned to roll over and crawl and babble just as the milestone charts said you would. You loved to be cuddled and rocked and this time I have let myself enjoy that. With your older brother I thought this might foster bad sleep habits but this time I thought I would risk it since we both enjoyed it. You have a great big brother that looks out for you and does a pretty good job sharing his toys. He loves to kiss on you as much as the rest of us do. Your fine hair and the little you have of it makes kissing you irresistible. You are a picky eater and don't enjoy your milk that much. You quit nursing at 8 months after starting to fall of your growth curve. You don't like veggies at all but do seem to like fruit except blueberries and bananas. You love bread, rolls, and anything that is high in carbs like pizza and grilled cheese. You can thank your brother for the tv you get to watch. He had to wait until he was two to watch cartoons but you've gotten to watch right alongside him. You can also thank him for having McDonald's and other fast food before your first birthday. His love of McDonald's has rubbed off on you as you can polish off several nuggets. You don't really say much that has meaning we can understand although I am convinced you are talking about things that are very important to you. You light up when you see Linus and Papa. You get angry when I change your diaper or clothes and yes you already have a temper. I am sorry you inherited that from me. You tug at my heart when you lay your head on my chest and hold tight to my shirt as I rock you before bed. You love to patty cake and play peek a boo.
I love you so very much and wish you a happy birthday. May you always feel God's love and comfort. I pray that as you make your journey on Earth you grow closer to God and become a man of God. I pray that when great things happen you will praise and give thanks to Him and when things aren't going your way and get tough you turn to Him for guidance and seek comfort in His love. I recently read a letter from a mother to her daughter on her first birthday and she said it best, "I love you completely, and I'll love you always. But even as much as I love you, God loves you so much more - how wonderfully amazing!" This is so true and is the best gift you will ever receive... on this birthday and all the ones to come.
Hugs and Kisses and More Kisses,
Mommy