Happy first birthday! What a bittersweet moment for your mom. You just kissed your babyhood behind. You are a fine final addition to our family (although if Dad had his way you would not be the last, but I’m pretty set – four kids has been wild!). You are adored by your brothers and sometimes tolerated by your sister. And Daddy and I just cherish you so much.
We haven’t hit the doctor’s office in a little bit so we don’t have any stats on your growth. But you do wear size 4 diapers and in 18 month clothing. You like food, but have been more suspicious of what we feed you. You’ll spit it out immediately whatever it is and then will start eating it by the second or third bite. If you are done with food it is immediately thrown to the floor, so feeding you has gotten quite messy unless we feed you ourselves! Your favorite foods are apples, sweet treats, and cereal. You always plop right next to me if I have a bowl in my hands and we share breakfast.
You are making strides in your development! You’ll sometimes copy us if you are in the mood. The same goes for standing and walking. It has to be your idea otherwise you don’t cooperate much. We do catch you standing a lot and you have been letting us use our fingers to help you walk more. I totally think you are capable of walking, so we’ll see when it happens. I’m guessing within the month, but who knows! You babble quite a bit and will be happy screaming in church quite a bit, until you are actually screaming.
One of your favorite things to do is play catch with a little basketball Eli got for Christmas. We’ll see you throwing it all around the house and you are so delighted when someone sits down and passes the ball back and forth with you. You like to crawl around outside and run away when I need to change your diaper. You’ve gotten so wiggly! But you like to be held by Mom a few times a day and nurse. You still wake up twice a night whining for milk, and since we moved you in with your brothers I can’t really let you cry it out. We’re still trying to figure out the best rooming situation. You and your sister make it a little hard!
Your brothers do love you though. Eli loves to cuddle and play with you and Joseph likes to pick you and walk around with you, even if you don’t like it nearly as much. Eden doesn’t like you getting in her toys, so she hasn’t taken you quite like your brothers. Hopefully you guys will be better friends and playmates when you get older! You seem to be a mix between Joseph and Eli in terms of facial features, but I never expected to have a toe head! You are really blond. I did notice you had a lighter hue to your hair when you were born compared to the other three, but boy did it lighten up!
Overall you’ve been a good baby! Very tolerant of being taken all around as I take kids to and from school, go to extracurriculars, or going shopping. You can entertain yourself pretty well, we just have to make sure the toilet lids are down and the dishwasher lid is up! You can be a little mischievous, but it comes with the territory of toddler. I only hope you don’t get destructive when being curious!
Although having a fourth has been challenging, I certainly wouldn’t change it. I love having you in my life, Noah. I only hope you will offer me sweet cuddles for a little longer. I love seeing you grow and learn so much this year. Thank you for being patient with me when my attention had to be split in many directions. I just wish I could truly slow down and cherish my last baby, and it’s a shame that I have to be so busy when saying goodbye to that stage of life. I adore and love you, little Moogie (or Noby, or Nogie, or Scooby, or Scoogie, or whatever I felt like calling you this year). May Heavenly Father bless you this coming year as you continue becoming your own little person.
Love,
Mama
