Dear William, I loved those first days with you. You don’t remember them, but I do. You were such a quiet, content little baby. You just snuggled and nursed and napped. In those first few days, Joseph proved to not only be a sweet big brother, but also a very loving and gentle brother. I was amazed that there was no sibling rivalry. No jealousy. No hateful glares. Just love. Pure, fresh brother love.
The day we brought you home
Grandma Cindy was there for your birth. She stayed with us for two weeks after you came home...here's Joseph loving every little thing about you.
As time went on, your little personality emerged. You were so curious from the very beginning…
3 months old and watching everything around you
Sometimes being so curious just wore you out!
As you continued to grow, you tried so hard to keep up with Joseph. You learned to crawl quickly which was a great triumph in your eyes…finally you could chase brother down the hall! I can still hear your giggle echoing down the hallway when he’d turn to chase you. Oh and you discovered the art of playing with Daddy. Rolling, tickling, chasing…
Now you’re no longer content to watch life from the sidelines. You participate in everything we do, whether it be preschool or playing ball, we find you in the center of the action, happy to be a part of the excitement.
Here you are as one of the Wise Men during our Epiphany celebration.
Watching the stingrays at the aquarium
Watching Signing Times on YouTube with Joseph
You’re always such a happy little boy (even happier now that you can walk and really keep up with Joseph!). Seems like these days you and Joseph are stuck together with glue…where we find one of you, we find the other. You follow him around, happy to do whatever he’s doing. And the few times when he doesn’t let you play with him, you’re happy to come find me and help me in whatever way you can.
I’ve learned now that one of the greatest battles I will always face as a mom is an internal conflict regarding the passage of time. On one hand, I rush you, in my mind, to grow up, eager to see you learn new things, hear your 1st word, watch as your personality blossoms. But on the other hand, I desperately try to slow down time, wanting to savor each moment. I look at you today, one year old, and I want to stop time. I want to always be able to see you as you are today…so full of life, so curious, so very, very happy.
Happy Birthday my sweet little one year old!
Love, Mommy
With Every Intention 
And a happy birthday to you William from your Grandma Cindy too. Being there at your birth was such an honor for me! I wish I could have been with you on your first birthday but I know that you had your family with you and enjoyed the day just being with Mommy, Daddy and big brother, Joseph.
Love,
Grandma Cindy
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