Titus' One Year Letter

My Little Titus (who isn't so little anymore) -

I have loved this past year with you. It is still hard to believe you were once a tiny little screaming newborn. I couldn't have pictured your personality and how much I love you more and more every day had I tried. You are such a happy baby and just absolutely love people. After eating your chili at your birthday party I put you down on the floor. You sat is awe of all the people for a good 20 minutes. Then, you dug right into playing with your friends and toys. I kind of forgot to keep an eye on you and about an hour later I figured I should probably check to see how you were doing. You were in the playroom making yourself at home in the midst of your friends and their parents.

There are other things that make you light up, besides people. There have been occasions when you will be crying when we take you out of your crib or you want your mommy and you will catch a glimpse of a light. You will brighten up and say, "Dis." We aren't sure how you came up with the word "Dis" for light, but we love it.

You absolutely love bath time. It doesn't matter what room you are in, when we run the bath water you come crawling to the bathtub as fast as your little body will let you. Another highlight in your life is outside. I have let you crawl around outside and you just explore anywhere you can go. There isn't a day that passes by where you don't point out the back sliding glass door to show me outside, often times wanting to go out. I hate that it has been too cold lately.

You adore our dog, Zoey. You have grown on her, even though she won't admit it. When you notice her you clap your hand to your leg and say, "Gug." We think that is close enough to saying, "dog." You do pretty good with her, using your gentle hands and petting her. Zoey still has a hard time with jealousy and she has a fear of you pulling on her fur. Usually you just pull on her hair when you are trying to pull up to a standing position.

You are absolutely in love with music, balls and books. These are your attention-getters. There is a corner in your playroom I can put you in and you entertain yourself just looking at books and listening to music. The books you love most right now are touch-and-feel. However, you will sit still for a long time while mommy and daddy read you any book. I find this unusual for a toddler. You also love Pandora, as does mommy. I have gotten many of chores done by getting out your musical instruments and turning on Pandora. The drumsticks are your favorite. When Grandma Sjostrand first gave them to you, you wouldn't put them down for anything. You nursed with them and took a nap with them. It was the first item you showed real displeasure for having something taken from you. There have been other items you have taken to, but not like your drumsticks.

Your face lights up when someone sits down to throw a ball with you. If no one is around to play ball, you simply push it and chase it around the room. We love to see you throw. When you throw other things, such as toys, it is hard to speak harsh to you because it is still such a delight to watch you interact. However, your little throws will one day become bigger and cause harm.

Another game you love right now is Peek-a-boo. We use to put you on the bed before you could roll over and play Peek-a-boo with a blanket. You then started grabbing anything within reach that resembled a blanket. Now, you will use your hands, shower curtain, toys, a book and any other numerous items to play this favorite game.

You are such a delight to us. We love your little voice. Daddy and I could listen to you chatter forever. We love to hear you talk/sing yourself to sleep. Many of babies cry themselves to sleep and wake up crying/complaining. You just talk, talk and talk until you fall asleep. When you wake up you "ask" to get out of your crib by "talking" loudly. If we don't come right away, you entertain yourself by talking to your crib animals (Brownie the dog, Agoo the monkey, and a lion) or put yourself back to sleep. Sometimes mommy has worried because you are so happy in your crib. You also sleep more than most babies. You sleep 12 hours at night and take three 1 1/2 -2 hour naps. Therefore, you are only awake 8-10 hours in a 24 hour period. I have tried to cut back your sleeping time, but unless we are out and about you really can't cope. I want so much to have more time with you throughout the day. I guess the day will come soon enough.

It wasn't until you hit around 10 - 11 months that you started letting mommy and daddy cuddle with you. Even then, it is only at night before bed. You have never been big into cuddling. You do, however, love to give hugs. They are so sweet and I treasure them so much. You also love to blow kisses and smile when we blow them to you. Two other affectionate things you do are giving "high fives," and waving bye when going to bed. You use to wave good-bye when people left your presence, but now you save them for going to bed.

One thing you do that I have to really watch is your touchiness. You don't mean any harm, but sometimes other kids your age do not know how to handle it or are not always in the mood for it. You like to get right in their faces or crawl all over them to say, "Hi." You like to put your fingers in their mouths and check out their eyes. Most of it is curiosity, but we still have to keep you in check.

For the most part, you eat about anything. You do tell us when you are all done, by using baby sign language. Although, you use the signs for "more" and "all done" to say "all done." The only other baby sign language you like to use is the sign for, "up." Usually you use it to say, "all done," also. You first started using the sign, "up," when you wanted up after nursing in bed with mommy and daddy in the morning. Now, you just crawl away and we have to catch you before you tumble off the bed.

There are so many things to love about you. The thing I love the most though is your interaction. I love interacting with you. I love seeing you interact with objects. I love seeing you interact with other people. I love seeing you interact with other children. I love seeing you interact with Zoey. You want so much to talk. I have a feeling that once you start really talking, there will be no stopping you.

Well, as this first year comes to a close I am looking forward to the years ahead. I am looking forward to seeing your growth verbally, physically and mentally. Most of all, I desire to see your spiritual growth. Sometimes I fear that your daddy and I aren't good enough examples for you. Many of times my prayer has been that you would rely on God and look to Him. I pray that one day you would have your own personal relationship with Him. I pray you would look past the faults of your parents and look to the One True Perfect God. There is no one else on the earth that can fill that gap.

We love you, Titus! Happy 1st birthday baby!

Mommy and Daddy