My baby boy is now one year old.  I can't believe how fast the year has gone by.  It seems like only yesterday I was whispering to Bill to wake up because I thought my water broke and now here we are a year later and with so much that has happened this last year.  I know everyone tells you that the time goes by fast, but my goodness, I didn't think it would speed by.  This past year with Jacob was the best year of both Bill and my life.  Truth be told, it was also one of the hardest years of our lives.  There were many sleepless nights, many times when we just didn't know what to do with him to get him to fall asleep, but really that is the only difficult part about being Jacob's mommy and daddy.  The rest is so much fun.  Jacob has made me smile like I've never smiled before.  When I see his little smile, something inside me feels so good.  I can't explain the feeling I have when I look into my baby's eyes and know that he is so happy and loved.  His precious little soul shines through his beautiful eyes and his warm smile.  I've never seen a baby smile as much as Jacob smiles.  He is such a happy baby and I thank God for that.  He has brought us so much joy and laughter this past year.  There are so many things that he has done to make us laugh and smile and feel wonderful inside.  Jacob is the best thing I've ever done in my life and he is such a blessing in our lives.

Today is also a special day for another reason...it's Jesus' birthday!  Happy Birthday Jesus...Merry Christmas.  Jacob has had a book calendar the past few days.  We started out the holidays with a trip to Uncle RJ's and Auntie Sonnia's house.  Jacob had a great time there playing with his ball and new maracas from Nani and Papa.  He was a trooper and stayed up until we left around 8pm and was out like a light before we hit the freeway. 

Monday afternoon we went to Uncle Jeff and Aunt Di's house to celebrate Christmas Eve with Daddy's side of the family.  Auntie Val and cousins, Auntie Gina from Georgia and the girls were there along with Grandma and Grandpa, Jeanne and Papa too (Nani was sick and stayed home to rest).  Jacob had a BLAST playing with his cousins.  They were even showing him how to play video games.  Jacob was so excited he didn't fall asleep until 9:30!  Oh my goodness, he was running around the house like a madman at 9pm.  I have no idea where all that energy came from because he woke up at 6am and only had one nap that day.  I guess it was just all the excitement of Christmas and being with all his cousins.  He got lots of presents from his Aunts Uncles and cousins.  WE had a great time.

This morning he woke up at 7am.  Both Bill and I went into his room to get him and sang Happy Birthday him while he was playing in his crib.  Then we went downstairs to see what Santa brought him.  He brought Jacob a small play gym with a slide and ball pit.  He LOVED it and did not get out of the ball pit for awhile.  By the end of the day he was climbing up and sliding down the slide by himself.  Then we opened our family presents.  Jacob got a singing school bus, his own laptop, some crayons and a sesame street driving toy where he can pretend like he's driving a car and move the steering wheel, turn on the blinkers, ets.  He really like all his toys and played with each one for a little while.  Then in the afternoon, mommy's side of the family and grandma and grandpa and jeanne came over to celebrate Christmas and Jacob's Birthday.  We had the back part of the house decorated for Jacob's birthday complete with balloons and his very own cake.  Mommy made his cake and decorated it all by herself.  Once again, Jacob was showered with so many gifts we didn't even know what to do.  And just like on Christmas Eve, he was asleep during the present opening time.  Once he woke up from his short nap, it was time to sing Happy Birthday.  He was very interested in the candle and just stared at everyone as they sang happy birthday.  I must admit, I had a couple tears in my eyes as everyone sang to my baby...I just can't believe he's already a year old.  Anyway, once he got a taste of the frosting, he loved it.  then he tasted the cake and loved that too.  Fortunately, he just had a bottle, so he wasn't that hungry, otherwise I think he would have eaten the whole cake!

Jacob had a wonderful day.  Both mommy and daddy put him to sleep and said a prayer with him before lying him down and then he was off to sleep and sweet dreams.  So until next time, our little one year old...mommy and daddy love you!