Michael - One year old!

Sweet boy I cannot believe you are one year old already. I think a deployment, move and many travels made this year fly even faster than average.  We celebrated your first birthday (in Texas) with a lot of friends and family who dearly love you and a great John Deere tractor party.  I think you begged everyone who held you for snacks and food, and pretty much ate your entire party, true Michael fashion. 

My sweet baby you are adorable, the cutest blonde hair blue eyed little boy around. To say you love your daddy would be an under statement, you adore him, like eyes light up, biggest smile, hands out for him to hold you, every time he walks into any room kind of love. However, mommy still suffices if daddy isn't around, I know you love me too, daddy is just first preference as of right now. Hungry is another great description of you right now (probably forevermore too), you can never get enough to eat, in fact most of the time we just stop feeding you after you've consumed a grown man-sized meal. You'd prefer meat, cheese, soups or any real meal that we put effort into. However, with that said you weighed a whopping 17lbs 10oz on your first birthday (below 0 percentile), which is beyond tiny. You were also 29in tall at your first birthday, which is the 29th percentile for your age. Christmas Day you also finally decided to pop through two more teeth, which led you to a grand total of (barely) 4 teeth on your first birthday. Besides tiny, hungry and adorable I'd also describe you as sensitive. You get your feelings hurt a lot, older brother is never gentle enough, and life in general is just a little scary and dramatic (especially if anyone besides mom and dad try to comfort you). You can also make some pretty pitiful faces, which daddy says comes from me.  We love you just the way you are though and wouldn't change your sweet, loving sensitive personality.  Speaking of older brother, you also adore Matthew, he can make you smile, laugh, chase you, play with you, even offers you extra food when he's not supposed to; you follow him around wherever you can. Walking is not really on your agenda yet, but you're a super crawler (and pull up on everything) so it doesn't bother you one bit. Michael Parker we adore you and can't imagine our crazy family without your loving sensitive tiny active little self. Your huge cheesy smile can brighten everyone's day! Happy first birthday!