It always amazes me how fast the FIRST year goes. How much the baby grows. How much he learns. And how much they change. But mostly how Fast it goes. This past year seemed to fly by even faster then I remember with the other two...maybe because now I have three little ones to take care of and who take up my time, maybe its because our lives never stopped or drastically changed when you were born, you just were added right into our busy schedules, always going were we went...never slowing us down or stopping us from doing what we needed to do. Time kept going, days kept coming and right before my eyes without me even realizing it you were growing up Zachary...you were not a baby anymore. You learned to sit and scoot and move all around and act like a BIG boy and then one day you were a BIG boy...not my little baby anymore.
We had a clown/ magician guy come to the party; he put on a great show.... your brothers and cousins had so much FUN watching his magic and getting animal balloons. And we celebrated you......every bit of you! Pictures of you as a baby and every few months and your first year pictures too including some adorable smash cake pictures were displayed. A banner hung with your picture and decorations on the wall, door ways and tables with streamers and decorations....every sign of a party, except for the big beautifully wrapped presents. And it's not because we don't love you or because you didn't get any presents it's because the gifts you received for your first birthday were ones that could not be wrapped or bought.
Being the third child and having two older brothers , Zachary, you truly were not in need of anything! You had buckets and bins and bags full of clothes in every size and season. Toys......so many toys, all boys toys...superheroes, trucks, cars,blocks, books....any toy imaginable. I could not come up with a list of birthday items that you needed and you were too young to ask what you wanted so I decided we should donate your gifts to other children, to children not as lucky or as blessed as you. I asked our family to bring unwrapped gifts to be donated to Making Kids Count; a local nonprofit organization that helps all children in need. There programs help poor children, sick children, new mothers in need of diapers or blankets, gives homeless children birthday parties, after school tutoring programs and healthy food programs to name a few. Zachary, I was amazed with how generous our family was...with how many wonderful gifts, fun toys and warm blankets were given for us to donate....imagine how many other children smiled and were happy because of YOU. Your brothers helped me drop off the donations to the nonprofit office and enjoyed seeing pictures of some of the children who would benefit and they felt good knowing they were helping others too. So our birthday gift to you was.... FAMILY, LOVE, COMPASSION, GIVING, EMPATHY and HAPPINESS, what wonderful gifts to receive and to give at such a young age. I am so proud of you!
Helping and giving!!! I hope you always give with all your heart, I hope if you see others in need that you always give of yourself and help in any way possible....I hope I can continue to teach you and show you how to love and help others, to be thankful for what you do have and to always count your blessings and to help those less fortunate. I hope you remember the importance of Family and I hope you make good Friends. I hope you always find the good in others but more importantly always find the good in yourself and share that with others! These are my hopes for you, my sweet little Zachary.
I have had so much fun watching you grow and experiencing all your "firsts" with you this past year! Happy birthday buddy! We all love you so much and we are so LUCKY to have you! You have been one of my most favorite gifts and I know how blessed and lucky I am to have you! I love you to the moon and back! Happy birthday Zachary!!!! I hope this next year goes a little slower...that we can enjoy every moment of you being ONE!
Last picture of you before you turned one...Sweet dreams my sweet baby!
Love,
Mommy
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