We have this established routine in the morning. Kaden will wake up around 6 am or so. Tim or I will go and pick him up from his crib and bring him into our room – rubbing his little fists into his sleepy eyes, long and lean in a colorful sleeper, hair rumpled up at the back – and we’ll all cuddle together in bed and go back to sleep for another hour. Or sometimes two. It’s amazing how much these simple little things can bring such joy into your life.
One year old. One year of sharing our life and home with Kaden. One year of gazing into a little face that reflects a bit of my own, but mostly Tim’s (as most people see it). We hang onto his every sigh and giggle. We listen with delight when he babbles and calls out for us. I was shocked, shocked when Kaden sat up on his own because in my mind he had entered a different stage of babyhood. We cheered him on when he started crawling, when he pulled himself standing and now as he takes wobbly steps as he holds onto our hands. We admonish him when we pulls down everything off the shelves but we’re also kind of amused. And I couldn’t believe how crushed I was when he refused to eat a meal I had laboured over the stove for.
I often tell people that the thing that surprised me most about parenthood is this: before Kaden was born, Tim and I knew with unshakeable certainty that we were going to love our baby. A lot. But it has astonished us both just how much we love him – that we never could have imagined the capacity our hearts have for this incredible amount of love. We thank God everyday for Kaden – whether it’s been a trying and tough day or one that’s been just wonderful. This is why we celebrate this milestone – one year of surviving parenthood, one year of this incredible little life that we’ve shared ours with.
We know we’ve been scarce with sharing pictures of Kaden – not intentional at all – so here’s a whole lot to make up for it! Watch his hair grow longer and then get cut and then grow out again.
