The Eleventh Hour

Dear Kemper,

I have been reflecting a lot in the last week or so about where we were at this time a year ago.  I remember being in this beautiful season of spring and having such wonderful baby showers thrown for us by family and friends in which we were gifted everything we would possibly need to welcome you into the world.  I remember spending hours preparing your room: washing and hanging clothes, arranging drawers, tucking bedding on the crib your Daddy so carefully put together. These were in fact the last days before I began to get sick.  The last precious moments I would have of preparation before the sleepless nights, the discomfort and anxiety. I recall thinking that I just couldn't imagine who you would be, what you would look like or how you would behave.  I'd gotten so used to having you grow inside of me, I was a little bit on edge about what to do with you when you came out! It was the eleventh hour, the last moments.

How far we have come, Bear!  You are now eleven months old and the eleventh hour has taken on yet another meaning!  It is the eleventh hour for baby-proofing as you are now MOBILE!  Your crawl is uniquely yours.  It isn't so much a crawl as propelling your body with one foot and the other leg tucked under you.  This doesn't seem to slow you down one bit.  I think you have very much enjoyed being able to grab your books out from the shelf and spread them all over the floor.  You have been quite amused with yourself getting into bags, drawers, and most recently the refrigerator. In fact, the fridge is such a big attraction to you that you pulled yourself up to standing in front of it the other day. Much to the joy and surprise of your parents!

You have had delightful visits with all of your grandparents, your Aunt Mert and your Auntie Whit in the last few weeks.  We all spoil you, we just adore you so much.  You continue to be so sweet and happy most of the time.  Which is a real blessing considering you have been sick most of the month with colds and a little stomach bug. We haven't slept all that great the last week or so but thankfully that is turning around (fingers crossed). I have hated to see you sick but it hasn't stopped you from playing or eating! The ladies at daycare always tell me how good you are and how well you eat. Speaking of eating, on the highlight reel this month is your lightening fast reflexes in stuffing half of a chocolate cupcake in your mouth off of mommy's dinner plate at youth council.  You have such good taste I couldn't even be upset about it.

So, here we are, the eleventh hour before the big birthday!  I cannot believe you are almost one.  Our tiny little baby, a year old.  Each day when we first came home  I would say, "well he's still alive so we are doing good!"  A lot has changed in the last year but one thing has remained constant; you have become the center of our hearts.  You are the sun, around you we revolve.

Happy Eleven Months Kempy!

Love,
Mommy