Caleb--1 year

My Caleb celebrated his very first birthday a few weeks ago.  Memorial Day we went down to the Mill City/Stone Arch Bridge area in Minneapolis to take some photos of our big one-year old.  Before digging into his photos, I just have to take a minute to brag on my little boy.  The very first time I laid eyes on him I fell in love!  He was a big, (9 pounds, 6 ounces) loud little guy.  He had a head of fuzzy blonde hair with a little swirl right in the middle of his forehead.  He had a "stork bite" on the back of his head...a sweet little button nose...and perfectly wrinkly little feet.  A few months later he turned into quite the little smiler and we started to see some personality come through!  The stork bite has faded, his feet are too chubby for wrinkles, and he's added another 13 pounds to his little body, but the smiling has not stopped.  In fact almost every time we are out, a stranger who has been wooed by Caleb's flirtatious smile will stop me and ask, "Is he always this happy?"  And this proud mama gets to honestly say, "Yes...most of the time he really is this happy!  I'm a lucky mommy!"  And it's so true!  I am such a lucky mama to have been blessed with this sweet smiley boy! 

Dear Caleb,
Thanks for all the joy you have brought into our family this year!  You are such a delight to each of us, especially to me.  I'm not sure where that happiness and joy comes from in you, but some day I plan to share with you where TRUE joy comes from...the hope we have in Jesus Christ...and I can't wait to see how that truth makes you smile...and how it makes strangers notice that there's something special about you.  I love you to pieces, little man!
Love, Mommy