One . . .

I have started this blog post in my head a hundred times . . . and I still don't know what to write today.

Sappy? Sentimental? Funny? I feel every emotion right now.

It has been one year. A year since he came tumbling into our lives. Literally.

Some days it makes me laugh. Other days I cry. Every day I am amazed.

The day started so calmly and then twelve hours later, in a flurry of panic, he was a part of our world.

"Umm. Excuse me, Doctor, but there is a baby on my wife's bed," the father said calmly as he stepped into the hall looking for help.

You really should hear the whole story sometime.

Then the whirlwind started - and it's still blowing today.

The other day, I found Carson with the step stool - you know, the one made for the kids - pushed up to the window sill. He was standing on the stool on one foot. . . with the other foot propped up on the sill in an attempt to climb onto the window.

I chose rescue over a prime photo shoot.

In one year, he has scared us half to death when he stopped breathing, left us blurry eyed from lack of sleep, made us laugh in moments we thought we never would, and showed us all how to fall in love more deeply than we ever knew.

Even though he was premature and had a bit of a bumpy start with two hospital stays, he has hit every milestone right on target. Don't tell him he can't walk - he won't believe you. He just charges from any standing point and topples without flinching. He crawls off his knees and on all fours like a stinkbug when the road gets too hard and climbs any obstacle that towers in front of him.

All of this seems vaguely familiar. I really hoped he would be the calm one.

Sigh.

It's a good thing he's cute.

Newborn                                                       First Smile (6 weeks)                                             3 months

4 months                                                            6 months                                                         7 months

8 months                                                          9 months                                                        11 months

We've learned so much because of this little man. God had a plan for our hearts when he gave Carson to us. Maybe someday I'll talk about it more - but the today lessons are still too fresh.

In the meantime, it's time for celebration, cake and lots of kisses - big, slobbery, wet ones. They're the best.

We love you, our little Carson-inator. We are forever changed.

Happy, Happy Birthday.