A Letter of Remembrance to My Son on My Birthday

Dear Sweet Boy,Today is my birthday, and I'm feeling so thankful for this past year! Before you were even born, you were already making my life extraordinary.
Here are the moments from each month of our past year together that I am remembering today:
February 2010You and I walked the streets of Barcelona together. You lived in my tummy, but I whispered to you as I walked my way through the gorgeous city. I told you about the beautiful sights in a hushed voice, and I dreamed of the places we would visit together throughout your life.
March 2010For my birthday, Dada bought me a visit to a special ultrasound place where we could see you on a big screen in 3D. It was so amazing! Dada and I were so excited to get a little peek at you. You were adorable even then with your full lips and chipmunk cheeks.
April 2010Mama and Dada said a bittersweet goodbye to their little condo in the city. We choked back our tears as we closed the door for the last time on Mama and Dada's first home together. We were very excited for our new house with lots of space and a nice yard for you to play in one day, but the house felt empty without you. We couldn't wait to hear the sound of you filling our new home.
May 2010Mama was very sad to get laid off from her teaching job in the city. She taught boys and girls that she really loved; those children had a lot of problems and challenges to deal with, but it didn't stop them from loving you before you were even born and from being so excited about your arrival. Although this was a sad experience, it was a blessing in disguise because it has led to me being able to be with you all day, every day, and there's no place I would rather be!
June 2010This was the most amazing month of Mama's life because you were born! I felt like the luckiest woman in the world to have the family I always dreamed of.
July 2010You took your first road trip out of the state and attended your first wedding. I remember holding you close as we watched the beautiful wedding ceremony and listening to you sing a sweet and soft song for the duration of the ceremony. I also remember your first Fourth of July as we watched the town's parade. I felt so proud of my little family as we attended our first town family event together.
August 2010One of Mama's best friends came to visit you from Chicago and it felt so surreal to see that Mama and her friend were all grown up with beautiful children. You also took your first trip to Vermont to see your aunt and uncle, went on your first big hike, and visited Mama's family and the house that she grew up in for the first time. Your relatives were so excited to meet you at your "Meet Baby" party.
September 2010We did so much exploring together during this beautiful month. We took long, luxurious walks together almost every day. You also took your first plane ride to see your cousin get married in North Carolina and had such a nice time meeting many of Dada's relatives for the first time.
October 2010I'll never forget the first beautiful ceremony of your life as you were Dedicated at our church. It was such a special experience to publicly devote ourselves to you as parents and to feel the love and support of our family members.
November 2010It was so exciting to experience your first big holiday! We felt more thankful than ever on your first Thanksgiving, and we loved seeing you under a Christmas tree for the first time since your grandparents put their tree up early just so you could see it.
December 2010Mama felt like a kid again as we did every possible holiday event to make the most of your first Christmas. Mama admits that she took advantage of having a child at Christmas for the first time and did silly things like wear red fleece monkey pajamas on the Polar Express train with you. You went to a Christmas tree farm, walked the ice cold streets of our neighborhood with Mama and Dada looking for Santa Claus, attended a Christmas bell chiming concert... We certainly celebrated your first Christmas in every way possible!
January 2011We didn't make it to midnight during our New Years Eve celebration in Vermont with your grandparents and aunts and uncles, but it didn't matter because all we needed was to see you sleeping next to us to know that we were going to have an incredible 2011.
February 2011We're getting ready to take you on your first big vacation to California. Mama and Dada are so excited to swim and hike with you every day! Mama's already having the best birthday ever because she woke up to a hug from you!
I love you, special baby, and I am so excited to spend this next year with you and Dada!
Love,Mama