Cotten Tales: hApPy 1st BiRtHdAy, EtHaN fOx!!

happy 1st birthday to my pride & joy, my baby love, my bam bam, my bubba, my little stinker, my little monkey, my little man, ethan fox!

my, oh, my!! where did the first year go?! it went by too, too quickly. i know i say this a lot.. but it's so true: you've brought so much joy to my life. from the very beginning, when i found out i was pregnant, to the first ultrasound, to the first sound of your heartbeat, to the ultrasound where we found out you were a boy!, to feeling the first flutter or karate kick, to finding out that you had a head full of hair (even before you were born), to feel you push back while i pushed on you in my tummy, to the moment i laid eyes on you, at the moment i heard you take your first breath, the moment i heard your first cries, at the moment i held you, kissed you, changed your first black poopy diaper, cradled you in my arms & nestled you to my chest, seeing all our family & friends stand in awe of you, the time we gave you your first real bath, the first time your little fingers grasped my fingers, seeing you smile while you nurse & have your eyes closed (you still do this), just seeing you smile & noticing you had Daddy's dimples, hearing your first giggle, cutting two teeth at the same time, and then 5 more teeth followed suit shortly after, eating applesauce as your first "baby food", learning to shake your head "no", rolling over, crawling, pulling up & standing on your own, when you learned to clap & wave "bye bye", your first bite of your momma & leaving bruises, saying "da da" first (i was jealous just a tad bit), taking a few steps to daddy (major jealousy), hearing the squeals of excitement when we took you to the park & let you swing, learning to dance to "scout, the green dog"... all things & much more.. nothing but joy..

in your first year, you have accomplished & learned a lot.. and i promise you there is still tons more to learn.. i love to just sit & watch you play & just see your mind reeling. i wonder what goes through your little brain... and every milestone has brought us so much joy. and we've thanked & continuously thank God for you. you were meant to be a part of this family. and i am so thankful that God blessed us with you & that you were part of his master plan for our lives. we pray for many, many years to come.. that you walk in God's ways, that you have an intimate relationship with him & live life sold out to him. we speak blessings over your life.. and that you will always be a blessing to others. we pray that you continue to grow strong & healthy. we want the best for you.. and i, personally, love to spoil you.

you are an amazing little being. i fall more & more in love with you each & every day. you melt my heart into a pile of goo everyday. i love that you love me no matter what. and i pray that it stays that way forever. i love that sometimes, i am just the only one you need or want. you've taught me to be more selfless & to give more of myself. and what i wouldn't do to assure you have it all? you mean the world to me. and i know my life is more complete with you. i am looking forward to what God has in store for your life.. and our life. you had an amazing first year.. and i pray you have an even better second year! we love you.