Dear Baby Arlo

Dear Baby Arlo,

Today's your very first birthday.

As I sit down to write this I can't help but let the tears fill my eyes. I can't believe it's been a whole year with you in our lives. It seems like just yesterday and a whole lifetime all at once that we brought you into this world. This has by far been the hardest, most frustrating, sleepiest, amazing, exciting year of my entire life. And I have you to thank for that. I'm going to be honest, we had a rough start. It was hard to be a mom and I know it was really hard to be a baby. But we stuck together and we are still making it one wonderful, messy day at a time. I don't know what I would do without you and your contagious smile and hearty laugh. I don't know what I would do without your excitement for life and your bright blue eyes that just seem to take in the world around you. You have so much drive and determination in such a teeny, tiny body. I just know you are going to do so many amazing things and once you make your mind up, no one will be able to stop you.

You have turned our world completely upside down. No books could have prepared us for the smart, energetic, observant, persistent, boy we would have. No books could have prepared us for the intense love and frustration we would feel all at once. No books could have prepared us for the months and months and months of sleepless days and nights. No books could have prepared me for how much I would love the fact that you need me, even if it means I miss some hours of sleep. No books could have prepared us for how amazing and perfect you are for our family.


Thank you for  helping me see all the imperfections and impossible expectations I had for our life. We would be so bored if you turned out anything like I had planned. Thank you for keeping us on our toes and for keeping the excitement in our lives. Thank you so much for being you and for making me a mom. It's honestly the most amazing gift you could have ever given me.

You are the most amazing, beautiful boy I've ever met, you are the love in my heart and the bags under my eyes. You are the joy in my day and the marks on my hips. You are my perfect boy and I wouldn't trade any of it for all the sleep and perfect skin in the world.

You are truly amazing. 

I love you so very much.

Happy birthday my sweet boy. 

Love, Mama