You got to pick your cake, so mommy made you a special one. Banana. And you got to choose your ice cream at the store. Strawberry, with real strawberries! There's a lot of times that you don't get to pick the things that we have, because you're kind of in the middle. There's a lot of times I realize you have gotten forgotten in the chaos and I'm sorry. So I hope that we made your birthday special enough for you.
William, you are such a joy in our lives! We went through a lot to have you here with us, and it's a miracle that you are. Mommy's body stopped feeding you, but her doctor was paying close attention. And told us that we had to have you early. You didn't like that, but when you finally got here, we were so happy to have you placed in our arms! And for 20 glorious minutes we held you and knew who you were. And then the nurse came to check on us and told us they had to take you away to check on you because you were looking a little blue and making funny noises.
And it turned out that you were our sickest little baby yet. They had to make you sleep so that a machine could breathe for you. The doctors had to give you things to help your lungs develop. When you could breathe better, you had to wear little sunglasses and chill out under special lamps. But you didn't like the glasses and kept pulling them off. Even as a TINY baby, you had such a fun personality!
When we finally got to take you home, you were too small to fit any of the clothes we had gotten for you, thinking you would be big like your older brother Nathan. So Grandma D had to make some special tiny pajamas for you. I kept them special, so that when you have babies, you can show them how small you were. And how loved.
William, I don't have many pictures from your first year. And I'm sorry for that. They were lost. But you loved scooting around the floor, and playing with the kitten who climbed into the playpen all the time! She loved you and would let you pull her around the house by her tail. Or fall asleep on her. Or carry her around like a doll. You loved eating spaghetti, because it made a huge mess!
Oh, you loved a good mess! Paint, kitty litter... Trash even!
You love doing the things your Daddy does.
You know one of the things I love? How, every morning, you get dressed by yourself. Before you even come out of your room. Without being asked. I love how you make yourself toast when you need a snack. I love how you help your brother find his special bear.
I love how you stand by mommy and "exercise" with her. You're so fun to watch! I love how excited you get about going to school every day, even if it's hard sometimes for me to watch you walk into the school all by yourself. You still need me to hold your hand, and you still love to be tucked in at night.
Sometimes you and I have a hard time with each other, because we are very much alike. Sometimes I feel like I'm not doing the best job of giving you everything you need, because you have brothers that take a lot of attention. But I'm trying, my sweet William. And I love you so much... Happy Birthday!
