Happy Birthday Genki - 1 Year!

It's hard to believe, but you're 1 year old! I don't know how time can go so fast and so slow, but the first year with you was like that. The nights when you used to wake up every hour, those were long nights (and long next days). The time when you were light and small enough for us to carry in the Baby Bjorn went by so fast. I still love carrying you, but your weight and penchant for wiggling means we can only carry you for short times now. How much you have grown and changed in 1 year. You're not a baby anymore!

Your mama recently showed me a Japanese Pampers video. In the video, moms in Japan take their babies to see the doctor for the 1 year visit. During the visit the dads hang photos of the moms in the hospital hallway to surprise mama. You see, baby's first birthday is also a celebration for mom. For 9 months before you were born and for the first year of your life, your mama has been amazing. In your life, I hope you remember, your biggest hero is your mom. You are a happy and healthy baby because of your mama. She always thinks about you first and does everything to make sure you are comfortable, even on days when she is super tired and you are being difficult. In the future, sometimes for no reason, please just say thank you to your mom.

As for me, if I think about the last year, I can only smile. You have such a good spirit, I can see already. You love to be with people, you love to play and you love to laugh. Of course, like all babies, you are also fussy sometimes. But I can see your personality shining through like a bright sun. I don't know what your future will be, but I do know that right now the possibilities are endless as long as you have this personality. This apparent love for joy. Keep this always in your heart.

With the first year in the rearview mirror, I wanted to list a few of the many firsts. Year 2 has just started and I am sure there will be so many more wonderful things in store for us.

August, 2013 - Birth! First meeting with Grandma and Great-Grandma from Japan!

September, 2013 - First meet with grandpa Buglio.

October, 2013 - First Halloween.

November, 2013 - First Bulls (and Blazers) game! 100 Days!

December, 2013 - First Christmas, first trip to Japan!

January, 2014- First New Year's.

February, 2014 - First snow!

March, 2014 - Visit to Detroit Dam and Lake.

April, 2014 - Visit Uncle Jun, Aunt Mai, baby An and Grandma in Toronto. Meet Grandma Peggy and Aunts Cheryl and Theresa!

May, 2014 - First kiss and first camping!

June, 2014 - First bike ride!

July, 2014 - First blood, first visit to Crater Lake!

August, 2014 - First Birthday!

Almost 1 Year - 362 Days

This will be the last time I list days in the title. Your first birthday is on Thursday, so we can start listing years and months and weeks. Can you believe it? Already 1 year old. I'll save my 1-Year thoughts for Thursday, but briefly I wanted to show you a little bit about your sleeping style.

Of course, you have had good days and bad days with sleep. In the beginning you woke up every hour or two. Then for a short time you would sleep all night (those are good nights!). Recently you've been waking up around 3am or 4am and then sleeping for a couple more hours. You'll grow out of that, you see, kids love sleeping. They might hate going to bed, but they love sleeping. So far though, you have been an early riser. You seem to be a morning person. I guess that came from me. 

One other thing that might have come from me is your sleeping position. Or I should say, positions. When I was a kid I would sleep in many crazy positions, turning around many times at night. You do this a lot. Usually when I go upstairs to go to sleep I take a photo of you sleeping. Maybe a little creepy (and I promise I will stop this when you get older), but it's so funny to see the crazy positions you put yourself in.