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Happy Birthday, Little Deeds!

CanCan, 15 August 2008,
Categories: Deaky Deke

Dear Deeds,

I can’t believe how quickly your first year has passed. I remember well the day of your birth; I waited until the last minutes to go to the hospital, and Papa stopped at McDonald’s for a milk shake on the way. It was about 1 A.M. When I finally got into the delivery room, you decided to make your grand entrance about twenty minutes later. It was an easy and fast birth; the nurses were begging me to “wait” for the doctor to get into the room. I don’t remember if the doctor made it in time or not; all I was thinking about was YOU, baby Deeds, and getting to meet you for the first time!
I like this picture of you, in the first moments of your life. My friend Kim says it looks like you were making a “Wazzup?!?” joke (that was a commercial that was popular before you were born, in 2000).

What I remember about your newborn days is that I was so surprised at what a good sleeper you were. You nursed well, and you slept well, too! I will always be thankful for that.

You weren’t very old when you and I started to work part-time in childcare. I think you were only two weeks the first time you came to work with me. I always kept you in my classroom, so that you could nurse whenever you needed to. All of the nursery workers loved you and enjoyed watching you grow. We clucked over your nursing habits and bowel movements. That is what moms do.

one month

two months
This is a picture of Nana giving you a bath in the sink. Bath time was a special ritual for you and Nana.

four months

I will remember you this year as being always happy, smiling, laughing and STRONG as a bull! You were crawling around 6 months, and then you took your first steps on your 9 month birthday! By 10 months you were all over the place! Now you like to RUN, with adorably straight legs. You usually laugh or hum while you run. You like for someone to chase you, but after a few seconds you turn around and run into their arms.

We have been in Laos for a month now, and you haven’t missed a beat. I can tell that you already understand some Lao language, like when someone tells you to “nang loam”, you really do sit down! And when some one greets you with, “sabaidee!”, you put your chubby hands together in a Lao greeting and say, “dee!”

I love the way you eat…you eagerly try new things, and usually say, “Mmmm!” with each new discovery.

I love the way you giggle and nuzzle your head into the mattress when I lay you down in your crib and you are ready to go to sleep.

I love it when you smile so big that your eyes disappear.

I love it when you laugh until you are breathless.

I love it when you hear music and start to “dance“.

I love it when you “sing” little songs with a high-pitched “da da da!”.

Here is your birthday pie that our friend Kelli got for you today:

You haven’t eaten it yet, Deeds, but we are saving it for you. Today you have a fever, but you are suffering with a smile:

This was when you woke up from your afternoon nap. A few minutes later, we sat down to dinner. You enjoyed your baked beans, grilled cheese sandwich, and apple juice. But then you threw up. After you threw up, you wanted more to eat.

I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a more exciting birthday today. We will have a party soon. Right now, the world is worrying about the price of oil, and Vientiane is experiencing more severe flooding than it has since the Big One in 1966.

But all I’m thinking about is YOU and your brother.

I love you, little Deeds, and though I’m sad that you won’t be a baby anymore, I can’t wait to see what your next year of life holds!

I love you, I love you, I love you,

Mama

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Comments

19 Responses, Leave a Reply

1 Lilith Silvermane
15 August 2008, 1:05 pm

What a wonderful letter to your little man!

Thank you for sharing…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY handsome! May the next year be just as special!
2 much more than a mom
15 August 2008, 3:04 pm

Happy Birthday Little Big Guy!
3 Marissa
15 August 2008, 6:47 pm

Aww, I got tears in my eyes after reading this! What a sweet little boy he is and what a sweet letter you wrote for him!
4 Jenny Jones
15 August 2008, 6:49 pm

Happy Birthday!! Can, praying for you guys. Enjoy your family this weekend!
5 Kathleen
15 August 2008, 7:03 pm

That was so sweet! I loved watching the video of him on the train laughing.

I kept thinking of my son as I was reading your letter to Deacon. My heart was just swelling up!

Happy Birthday little guy! Isn’t it amazing to watch your child’s life story unfold? There are so many things to look forward to.
6 PS
15 August 2008, 7:30 pm

Happy birthday little man! Isn’t is insane how fast a year goes.
What a beautiful letter!
7 Alexandra Hancock
15 August 2008, 8:24 pm

Happy Birthday Little Man! Can’t wait to read what things you are going to get into as a 1 year old.
8 The Cooks
15 August 2008, 10:14 pm

This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing this with us and Happy Birthday Deeds!! We miss you guys over here!
9 Nancy M.
16 August 2008, 1:20 am

Happy Birthday baby Deeds! You sure are a cute little guy. My little one’s 1st was about a week ago. How cool that they are the same age!
10 Smellyann
16 August 2008, 1:48 am

Aw, how sweet. Happy birthday to your little guy!
11 Naomi
16 August 2008, 3:44 am

happy birthday, deacon! hope you feel better soon.
12 Grandmother
16 August 2008, 12:11 pm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEACON!!! I tried several times to call so I could sing Happy Birthday to you, but the phone just rang and rang. I thought of you all day and the was you have changed so much in your first year of life. You are such a precious baby. Always happy and easy going. Nana and I really loved being able to be with you and watch you grow and change.
Candice, please tell Deacon Grandmother said Happy Birthday and she loves him and thank you so much for doing this. It really eases the pain of separation and wondering what new things the boys are doing and how they are changing as they grow. We are so blessed to have such a good mom (and dad) for your grandchildren. ‘Love you very much.
13 Jenn
16 August 2008, 6:51 pm

It seems IMPOSSIBLE that he could be a year old already! Wow!!!
Happy Birthday to him!

I think he looks a lot like Jonas, especially in that last photo. You have quite an adorable boy (or rather, two of them!) on your hands.
14 Cuddle Cottage
17 August 2008, 1:35 am

What a sweet, sweet birthday letter to your baby boy! Your motherly pride is evident in every sentence:)
15 ReadingIsSoMuchFun
17 August 2008, 2:38 am

Very nice post Happy birthday to your little man. Hope he had a lovely birthday.

Hugssss
LindaH
16 Rebecca
18 August 2008, 4:48 am

Why do you make me cry? Thats a wonderful letter, I hope someday he gets to read it.

Sorry he has a fever on his birthday!
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