Happy Birthday Sam!

I can't believe it has been a whole year! Every parent says that it goes by fast, but until you actually experience it for yourself, you just can't understand what they really mean. Our little Sam is not a baby anymore, but a little boy.

Being a parent has been quite a roller coaster. There are moments that I don't think could get any sweeter like when I am reading him a story before bed or when he lays his head on my shoulder. And there are moments where I don't think I have the patience and strength to get through another moment like when he throws all his food off of his tray for the 100th time or refuses to take a nap. But I know the challenging times are there to remind me that I was never meant to parent Sam on my own strength. Sam is ultimately God's child, not ours and only He can love and care for Him perfectly.

I thought for his birthday i would share some of Aaron and my favorite things about our boy. What a privalege it is to watch him grow and develop!

1. Sam loves to read with us. He can be cranky all day but when we sit down to read a book together, he lays back and becomes content. Favorite books include: Any and all Dr. Suess and Eric Carle books, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Chicky Chicky Chook Chook, Skippy jon Jones, Goodnight Gorilla, etc.
2. Sam is very affectionate. His "buddy hugs" pretty much make us melt. And as of late, he loves to give big, open-mouthed, wet, slobbery kisses.
3. Our son is part wookie, part "animal" from the muppet babies. He has a crazy set of lungs and everyone at church expects to hear him squeak and squeal at some point during the service.
4. We are now calling him "Sam the Destroyer" because his new hobby is to take everything out of drawers, off shelves, etc. Within 2 seconds a room can go from clean to disarray. Why do I even try to put things back in order??
5. He is a great shopping partner as long as there is a cart for him to lounge in. I use a cloth protector so he doesn't put his mouth on it and bring a large supply of Cheerios, and he is perfectly content to people watch and make friends. We definitely have our favorite cashiers at different stores that we have to visit with. Our Kroger lady, Debbie, is practically like an aunt:)
6. Sammy is a pretty good eater, but the foods he gets most excited about are bananas and whole grain waffles. I am sure in just a few years this will change to Doritos and Skittles, but for now, he doesn't know any better.
7. He really enjoys being outside and especially going on walks or hikes. We got a hiking pack, and he is perfectly happy to ride on daddy or grandpa's back.
8. Our little man LOVES cats and dogs and squeals with delight as soon as he sees them. Unfortunately, the animal often runs in fear knowing Sam will try to "love" them too hard by pulling their ears or burying his face in their fur.
9. We are pretty sure he is going to grow up to be a dentist because of his fascination with people's mouths and teeth. He is always sticking a paw in someone's mouth to check things out.
10. Right now, Sam really enjoys climbing up stairs, much to my exhaustion, especially at my parents house. I guess he is just preparing me for how much I am going to have to chase him when he starts walking.

Thanks for loving our little boy and supporting him as he grows up!