Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days

Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days or 525,600 minutes... it seems so insignficant to say "one year" because one seems like such a lonely, small, miniscule number. But to say 365 days... now that sounds more substantial. Whether great or small (though equal) it has flown by.

In 365 days, I have seen this little helpless infant learn to roll over, then to crawl and in the past two days... start taking his first steps toward "real" independence -- walking. He's sustained on my milk... only to wean himself... and now loves regular milk and is hopelessly addicted (as was Drew) to chocolate milk (Yes, I gave him chocolate milk -- it's a rite of passage in our house. Don't judge!)

I've seen him turn his nose to baby mush and Stage 2 and 3 because he wanted "real" food. He started with frozen peaches but now will eat just about anything. He doesn't have an affinity for pasta, however. He loves peaches, plums, pears, banana, blueberries are his favorite. He loves strawberries, honeydew melon, clementines, oranges, tangerines and grapes. HE will, of course, eat any kind of dry cereal and he loves graham crackers and Nilla Wafers. He also really loves plain vanilla yogurt with fruit mixed in.... or really anything else that I'm eating .. he wants a bite of.

He needs and wants his silky blankets to rest... it's comforting for him. I love his attachment to it.

He's grown from 0-3 month clothes, to 6-9 and is now in 12-18 month clothes. I shed a tear with every stage becuase I know that means this is the end of seeing those again. This is the last time I'll have a crawling little man in footie jammies holding onto my ankle wanting to be picked up to see what's going on up on the counter.

He loves the playroom and really enjoys his Melissa and Doug toys. There's somethign to be said for natural wooden products over hard plastic. It's an exciting stage that he is entering the hand-eye coordnation games and is amazingly coordinated already.

We are close to out-growing the swing though he loves it's soothing rhythm to sleep in.

This will be his second Easter this year but the first where he will get an egg... and get to sit in the grass... No candy, but I bet the Easter Bunny will fill those little guys with some goldfish and/or Cheerios!

He had hair at birth but now it's longer and curly.... and blondish-red. He has two bottom teeth and four coming in up on top. He loves his daddy and knows what it means when we say, "Daddy's home" at 6pm every day. He raises his head and tries to figure out what door to look for... front or back.

He delights in seeing his brothers when they come home from school.

We're in 12-18 month clothes, size 4 diapers and no shoes (he won't walk with those on).

He adores the outside and the feel of the grass.

He still sleeps beside me because that's where I want him... and I'm okay with that. Others don't understand that and that's okay. I'm not on this planet to abide by their idea of what is right... I'm doing what's right... FOR ME.

So, tomorrow we celebrate this amazing little person that we are so fortunate to have and that I am so hopelessly in love with. I can't imagine my life without him... and he has blessed me abundantly.

I know the next three hundred and sixty five days will bring about even more amazing changes in his world... so many firsts to experience... and I'm also thankful that I get to stay home with him (what a gift) so that I don't miss a thing!

We will be having a Dr. Seuss party for this little guy... lots of pictures will be posted tomorrow. I just wanted to take a moment while I could to record this snapshot of his life... because it is changing so fast... and I don't want to forget a thing!

So, to you, Benjamin Ryan Driggers... we dedicate this day... may your life be continually blessed beyond measure... I don't hope for you to have an easy life... I want you to know struggles but to ALSO know that you have the power within you to do anything you want! I have had the most amazing three hundred and sixty five days with you so far... and I can't wait to share the rest of your journey with you.

Love,
Mommy