Happy Happy First Birthday!!!

Dearest Kyan:

Today you are one year old. In 45 minutes (which actually makes it the next day, but we're talking California Pacific time), one year ago, you were born. What a year it has been! As your daddy is fond of saying, I cannot believe we kept a baby alive for a whole year. Not that it was hard with you! Your Grandma Kappy and Aunt Charlotte are visiting you from New Orleans right now, and all they can say is what a PERFECT baby you are. Just today, the doctor and the nurse and the woman taking your picture at Sears and Grandpa Tom ALL said what a sweet, mellow, beautiful and delightful baby you are. Someone once asked if we get sick of hearing people gush over you. Sick of it? We love to hear all about how everyone else thinks you're so special too. For example: today, you got a birthday tooth. No warning, no extra fussing, just alot of drool and all the sudden you have 7 teeth. What baby is clever enough to give themselves a tooth for their birthday? And right now, Daddy is teaching you how to blow kisses. He only showed you a few times, and you're already doing it!

There are so many things that are going on with you. You crawl like a mad man, you're walking holding on to mommy or daddy with only one hand, and man, you're getting fast! The doctor says you'll be walking any day now all on your own. The other day you stood up all by yourself in the middle of the floor and stood for about five whole seconds. And today you did it while you were having your picture taken, so we have proof! You still say only two things, "uh oh" and "mama/ama" although you like saying uh oh way more than mom these days. I think I may have heard you say "up" the other day, but it hasn't been repeated. You've also started imitating Veronica when she meows for attention, which we think is brilliant! You make lots of noise when you're chattering about, and like to make Darth Vader noises- breathing in while telling us something we are far too dense to understand, creating an eerie noise that makes us wonder if you're choking. You also cough to get attention, which gets Grandma Kappy every time. You're waving to say "bye bye" and sometimes hi, although you're actually waving to yourself;).

You like t.v. and will watch the Backyardigans completely rivited from opening music to ending jingle. You also like Dora the Explorer, Go Diego, Go, and Sponge Bob Square Pants, although I think it's mostly because of the funny noises Daddy makes when he's watching with you. Mommy likes the Wonder Pets, but you think they're for babies. You're a total water nut still, you love baths and swimming in the pool. You're sleeping very well (knock on wood!!!) although not long enough for us to get a whole night's sleep, maybe someday. You are an excellent eater, you eat anything and everything, although your appetite has gotten smaller, which they say is normal. You just went thru a growth spurt, according to the doctor, and are 20.6 pounds and almost 29 inches long. Can we stop worrying about you gaining enough weight?

You are doing so many other facinating, brilliant things, but for now I'm just going to go cuddle you and rock you and sing you a happy birthday song as you drift off to sleep. You are one year and 11 minutes old and the light of our lives. We can't wait to see what this next year will bring!!! WE LOVE YOU XOXOXOXOXO Mommy and Daddy