River Flynn,

Turning one hurt. Bad. But I’ve accepted it and decided that 13 months is okay by me. You’re eating less than the usual and throwing food a lot more. I guess something about hearing the word “toddler” made you feel like you needed to amp your game up a bit. Speaking of that, you’re getting brave with your brother. You definitely have your narc moments where you waddle straight to me and cry the most pitiful “oh my gosh sheppard was mean to me” cry, but you’ve managed to get a few hair pulls and shoves in this month. Not that I’m condoning it. Simply stating that well, you’re letting him know that you’re gaining on him and that makes me giggle a bit.

Im your favorite. And I like that a lot. You follow me around like a little shadow and insist that you take part in pretty much everything I am doing from start to finish. You’ve learned to give a good high five after finishing a load of laundry and you are becoming quite the dishwasher helper once I’ve removed everything sharp. So yeah, you are a huge help unloading those three plastic plates you help me with each day. The artist in you is coming out since you’ve learned how to draw with the milk from the nipple of your bottles. I will walk around the house and spot two or three little circle patterns where you had made some fun with the milk you didn’t quite finish up. Thank goodness Shep is my little cleaning helper bc I have a strong feeling that won’t be your strong suit. What is? Holy Moly kiddo you can navigate a walker through the house like a boss. Moving up and down the hallway after your brother pushing the caboose of your birthday train while Shep of course takes the bigger/more fun/actual train section and calls for you to chase him. True to character, you take the lesser of the two and make the best of it bc it makes him happy. Your little soul is so special and we are all so lucky to have you under our roof. You giggle with everything inside of you and always accept hugs and snuggles even when there’s something better in eye sight. Shep’s cups are the one things you’ll fight for and I’m starting to see that the water only approach I’ve worked so hard for might be unachievable. You’ve tasted the sweet nectar that is Apple Juice (sneaky beast) and now you whine until Shep gives you a sip of his. I’ll give up in a few days I’m sure.

I love you nugget. I’m thankful for you and I know that we are all better because you exist. Jesus taylor made you for all of us and 13 months or 3 weeks, we’ve known that from the very start.

Mommy Xx