Happy 1st Birthday, Will

One year ago today I gave birth to the most cuddly, lovable, gentle, and precious baby boy. It is truly hard to believe that it has been a whole year. I think about where we were a year ago today and it seems like such a distant memory.

We had just left our home and moved halfway across the country. I spent most of my pregnancy with Will alone in a new home with a 11 month old surrounded by snow and freezing temperatures. We were in a rental home and we moved into our current home when I was 36 weeks pregnant in the middle of the hot June sun. I spent my entire 9th month moving, decorating, packing, and taking care of a 15 month old.

Bennett only started walking about 5 days before Will was born. It was a crazy time. He entered into this world at at a time when I was feeling uprooted, alone, tired, and to be perfectly honest, not quite ready for another baby.

But God knew what I needed. And it was my little William. The completion to our family. The gentle and quiet little guy who is the complete opposite to his vivacious big sister. He was an old soul right from the beginning and he has proven to me that it is indeed possible to love another child every bit as much as your first.

At one years old, Will can say Bye Bye, Mama, Dada, and Ball. He recognizes other words and will point to them when you ask him where they are. He will say, "Ba" for banana and bath. He loves balls, dogs, and trucks. He loves to read and would cuddle with you and a book for hours. He sleeps 11.5 hours every night and still takes 2 good naps a day. His nicknames are "little buddy," and "Will-man" because Bennett can't say "William," and she will run after him saying, "That's MINE, Will-man!" And that's on a good day. :-)

The main thing that identifies Will to me is that he LOVES to be held. He would let you hold him all day long and he has been that way since birth. Bennett was always so much more curious. She always wanted to crawl and explore, but not Will. In fact, I cannot leave him in a room alone. If I am in the room, he will play on the floor. But if I walk out, he crawls furiously after me crying, "Mamamamamama."

Bennett is my heart and Will is my soul. The love I have for both of my children is overwhelming to me and I am so thankful for this year I have had with my baby boy.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17

























And finally, here is a montage video of Will laughing. I know it looks like we always rub our heads on his stomach and that's because, well...... we do. He loves it and it makes him laugh. But when I see it back to back, it seems odd. Oh, well.


Happy 1st birthday, Will! You are loved more than you know and we can't wait to see what this next year brings. Thank you for bringing so much joy and laughter into our family. We don't know what we do without you.