Happy Birthday

Today, March 18th, the day after St Patrick's Day, the third birthday in March for the extended Gailey family, this day that I was finally going to become a mother and Beau was going to be a father, this day that we would welcome our first-born into the world and rejoice that after 9-months of pregnancy will finally come to an end, the day that will always be remembered and celebrated because today is Benton's one year birthday.  So in honor of you, Benton:

Dear Benton,

The day that you were born was a very special day for your father and I and little did we know that our world, our lives would change so much.  At 10:27 pm a year ago, we found out that you were a boy and without any doubt looked EXACTLY like your daddy.  We couldn't have been more thrilled to finally hold you in our arms and love you more than you can imagine. 

It was a rough ride at first, but then it became smooth sailing.  The first 12 months of you life have been the best 12 months of our lives and the transformation from baby boy to a little man within those months have been exciting times.  This transformation took you to look exactly like your daddy to looking more and more like your mommy.  This transformation from sleeping/eating/pooping every couple of hours to rolling over/eating solid food/ crawling to standing on your own and walking around like you have been walking for ages.  Instead of crying to communicate what you need, you point and say "da" or hold your arms up when you want to be held or scream when you are annoyed (who knows where that came from??).  Your vocabulary has become more enriched, your love for balls grows each day, and you enjoy giving hugs and kisses.  You are even more a complete social butterfly and love looking around to see what is going around you.  You have transformed into a little man.  (little tear!)

We are still in awe that today you are one.  Seriously, where did the time go?  You have kept us busy and we couldn't have asked for anything better.  Even though these past 12 months have flown by us and the fact that today you are one, we can't wait to see what the next 12 months or 5 years will bring us. 

We love you and always will little one.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

On this 12-month mark, you:
- walk without support
- say: dada, mama, uh-oh, eh-oh, ball, dog, da for that, all done
- wave bye-bye and hey
- can play throw and catch ball
- give great hugs
- love to swing
- love Cheerios, Puffs, and anything else you can put in your mouth
- have become more independent and want to try things on your own
- play with Luna and Midnight and try to pet Junior
- mock pretty much anything your mommy or daddy does
- you currently have 4 top teeth and 2 bottom, wear a size 4 diaper, wearing 12-month clothes, and your desire to eat more and more like an adult increases everyday. You have a "girlfriend" at day-care.  You don't like to be woken up in the morning and starting to grow a rat-tail. 

Happy 1st Birthday Mr B!