Happy 1st Bday Vien!

Dear my baby boy,

Frankly, I wasn’t expecting much from our first year together. I thought, you’d be this just little being who would eat, sleep, and poop, and I’d be just this rookie mom who would let you do all three and make sure you’ll grow healthy. I was delightedly wrong!!! There were sooooooooooo many things, wonderful, terrifying things that had happened.

Your tatay and I have been the witness first-hand how incredible life has become when you came to our home. We didn’t know what to do the first night. Actually, there were many nights and days we were clueless if what we’re doing was right. You pooped, we changed your diaper, and then after a few minutes, you pooped again. You pooped quite a number in a day! Woohaaa! Was that normal? You got us very worried. We called up every mother we know asking if it’s ok, or if you’re already having a diarrhea. But now we know, it’s just you doing your normal thing.  Pooping almost every meal. The first month was quite a disaster. Being a parent wasn’t that easy, as in! We definitely didn’t pass with flying colors.

But as months go by, and as poops have become less frequent, you have become the “human being” we normally see on TV and read in books or magazines. You didn’t just lie there soundless. You started to wiggle your legs and flap your arms. You let out a smirk then a smile. You have learned to “talk back” which is OK, really. We don’t care if it’s a complain or what,  we’re just happy you’re making/jabbering words. You’re finally one of us!!!

You have given us cute surprises every month. In your own naïve way, you’ve made us cry and laugh at small mundane things. We watched you yawn and it made us smile. We let you kick our faces and we said you’re getting stronger. You peed on us and we just laughed about it. Your first fall, first bump, first mosquito bite made our hearts cry a little. But all these things, we knew, are part and parcel of this thing called growing up. Yes, you really have grown so big now! You can sleep by yourself at night without me carrying you. You wake up to nurse less frequently. Your bath tub looks small on you; you used to just lie on it with a bath recliner but now you already want to step out of it! You prefer to go outside than play in your crib. You want to have a “taste” of everything you see, literally. You’ve become this strong little fellow who looks far from that tiny baby we used to have. Where did the time go?

Truth of the matter is, from day 1 up to to this day, we are simply sooooooo happy to have you. Life made a major turn, now with a more meaningful aim. This journey is something different, enjoyable, and requires sacrifices and hard work, but one that your tatay and nanay are willing to take.

So on your first birthday, we wish you a bump- and fall-free day. You can do it! Enjoy your first cake my baby. There will be more cakes to eat and candles to blow. Happy, happy birthday! We love you so much.

love, 

tatay & nanay