Staring Down at ONE

I just read a story about a journalist’s accidental home birth and it has me thinking about Elliott’s first birthday on Friday. I can’t believe a year ago we were scouting locations to buy a bassinet so he’d have a place to sleep when he arrived home from the hospital. It was such a crazy time – I was completely anxiety ridden about becoming a mother of two and every time Sam had a tantrum I’d burst into tears too. Thank goodness those days are over!

As it turns out, the first two days of Elliott’s life were by far the most peaceful. Delivery was a breeze and I remember thinking that our time at Northwestern felt like a vacation. In retrospect it truly was! Since then it’s been a complete whirlwind of a year. It’s been chock full of ups and downs including 8 ear infections and a big brother who can’t grasp the concept of personal space. Elliott has been a real trooper throughout and I’m not-so-secretly hoping that his even-keeled attitude over the past twelve months is a window into his temperament overall. We’ll see.

So our baby days are quickly coming to an end. In no time at all, Elliott will be walking and talking and the teeny-tiny diapers and the miniature clothes will be a thing of the past. I’ve come to peace with that, but I keep finding myself trying to soak up all of the “babyness” he has left. I kiss his squishy cheeks incessantly and I’m constantly touching his perfectly soft hair. He still has a yummy scent and at least a few times a day I catch myself trying to breathe it in and commit it to memory.

But I’d be totally lying if I didn’t say that a part of me is a little relieved to see the treacherous first year come to an end. I just love to sleep, and the first six months in newborn land are brutal. But for all of the angst I had about having a second son, Elliott has been nothing short of magnificent.

Here is Elliott at 11 months as well as a couple of other good shots from this month...