Happy 1st Birthday Desmond!

Dear Desmond,

One year ago I was blessed to give birth to the surprise gift that is you and our family became complete. You came into the world so quietly that the doctor massaged you to make sure you were okay, but that is just your way. Even now, you only make noise when you need to. You cracked your first crooked grin a couple of hours later and you've been smiling ever since. You are the cheese in our ham sandwich.
We all marveled at the breakneck pace at which you developed over these last 12 months. You sat up at 4 months, crawled at 6 months and walked at 9 months. It feels to foolish to call you a baby when you are more like a mini superhuman. Your freakish strength is sometimes a challenge like when I am trying to change your diaper, but you never fight me to take a bath. We nicknamed you The Hulk because you can go from sweet, docile baby boy to mean, destructive mutant in a split second when someone or something makes you mad. It just takes a hug from mama to calm you down and you are back to your sweet self.

You love to eat, play with trucks, the basketball, blocks, and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. But above all this you love your big sister and look up to her with those big eyes as dark and brilliant as two chocolate diamonds. I can tell you think she hung the moon and you follow her around like a puppy. Your eyes light up when we pick her up from preschool and you wiggle out of my arms to go to her. I know sometimes she acts like she can't be bothered with you, but she loves you to pieces. She proudly tells everyone that you are her her baby brother. In the last month you two have become closer and started to really play together. Sometimes you two fight over toys (or who gets to sit in my lap), but the beef usually only lasts as long as a commercial break.
You and me have been road dogs for the last year, a journey that has taken us to a new city, new home, and new friends. You've been my constant companion through it all. I rarely went anywhere without you strapped to my chest in your carrier. You helped me with the transition more than you'll ever know. I relish the fact that I can always decipher your baby babble or your facial expressions. It's like we have our own secret language. My heart soared when you first started calling me mom. I hope we will always have this special bond.

You were supposed to start school yesterday because I am plotting my return to the workforce. But since we all have a bad cold, everyone stayed home. I can say without feeling guilty that I am happy for the extra snuggle time. It's proving harder to let you go since you are my youngest (and last). I am sorry that you are sick on your first birthday. We are going to try and make this a happy day for you with a homemade Mickey Mouse shaped cake.

Happy birthday my son. I love you to the the farthest star and back, and I can't wait to see how much you grow in the next year!

you are so special they named a street after you!