Andrew turns one: a retrospective

How did my baby boy go from this....



...to this, in just twelve short months?



Hard to believe it's been an entire year since the cold February morning when David and I went to the hospital in anticipation of our second son's birth. I remember lying propped up in the bed in the labor and delivery room and watching the snow fall outside my window. I remember looking over at the warmer across the room and thinking, with a shock, "Oh my God, there's going to be a baby on that in a little while. My baby!" Andrew ended up being born by c-section later on, at 6:31 p.m.

And here he is, a year old. I can't believe it! In some ways, and I know this will sound weird, he seems younger at one year than William did. Is it because I still have William around, only now he's nearly five and does nearly-five-year-old things that contrast so sharply with what a one-year-old does? Maybe.

Regardless, I'm delighted that Andrew is one. I feel like I made it over a major hurdle. I kept my child alive until at least his first birthday. Woohoo!

On Easter:



















Super Brothers!
















Last spring, in a dressing gown made by my friend Betsy:




















On the Fourth of July:




















Playing with Daddy:




















With William at Grandaddy Bill's house last October:



















Pumpkin Baby:




















Andrew and William conferring over when they think Santa Claus is going to arrive:
















In the bathtub last week, wearing a foam letter on his head, courtesy of William:
















This morning, in his birthday shirt, if not his birthday suit:



















Happy birthday, big guy. I'm so glad that you came to join our family.