August 22nd of 2016.. it was about 430 AM when the contractions started. They were mild at the time, until 9 AM. I knew it was that time, you were ready to come out and meet the world! Oh boy were you ready, if we got to the hospital just 4 minutes late your dad would have had to deliver you in the car.

The pain was intense, I kept telling your dad I felt like I was going to die.. but somehow I knew you were ok. See, we didn’t go through multiple ultrasounds and nonstress tests a week for the last few months for nothing.. I knew you were a tough little guy. But boy was the pain intense. Until it wasn’t.

Until the pain melted away, and they placed you in my arms and instantly my heart grew double the size. 9:49 AM, that’s when you were born; just 4 minutes after we checked into labor and delivery. You were a little piece of heaven, all 5lb 10oz of you. You gave your mama another gift that day, I was able to not only nurture you but to nourish you. You took onto breastfeeding right away, that alone felt like I won a battle I fought with your older brother.

Fast forward one year, and here you are. The most happiest, smartest, little guy.. you are our ray of sunshine. You brought so much joy back into mothering. Your kind and gentle heart, are things I only wish to teach.

The little details that make you -you, are things I never want to forget. The way you do everything with so much thought and caution, you focus so hard and are so serious but then you shoot me the biggest smile when we make eye contact.  You get so quiet when your brother acts up … and you laugh when he is crying. The way you squeal when he walks into the room, I don’t think anyone else can get that laugh out of you. That toy hammer is your favorite toy at the moment.. that and taking everything out of the cabinets a hundred times a day. I won’t forget your first big booboo, the small cut above your left eye your brother gave you. You still have no teeth, although we seen 2 top teeth breaking through just yesterday! You are not walking yet, but you mastered the quickest crawl I’ve ever seen.

When I look at you I am amazed. I am amazed not because of what you do, but because of the way you make me feel. You give me a sense of ease, and reassurance.. something I didn’t get much before. There is nothing but joy, and happiness with you, even with our sleepless nights after all this time. I have learned to be patient, but you taught me that. I am so blessed to be your mother, more importantly I’m blessed to be the one you love the most. I don’t know what I did to deserve that, but I thank God everyday.