One Year Letter

Dear Shep,

One year. It's gone by way too fast. This last month was a very busy one as we looked for a new house. It's so strange to think that you won't remember much about the home you were born into and that our next house will be the one where you form most of your early memories. I'm glad we'll be keeping our current house as a rental so that you will still be able to visit it and we can show you where you first learned to crawl and climb and throw.

You've really become your own little person this year. You throw tantrums when you don't get your way, move faster and with less fear than we're used to from a one year old, and love to play with your brother. You know when you are doing something you shouldn't and you have this little impish grin you'll flash at us every time. The biggest thing that your brother has to deal with from you is your love of hitting. You'll scurry all the way across the room just to land a smack on his face...for no apparent reason. You're very lucky he's so patient with you (usually).

You are still a bit of a momma's boy and we continue to work hard at getting you to enjoy sleeping the whole night in your crib. 3am is your time to shine and you insist that I'm there with you. I call it your 'walk about' when you decide that you don't want to be sleeping but are clearly exhausted. You'll try your hardest to stand up or crawl around, completely bleary eyed, and cry when you realize you have nowhere you actually want to go.

You haven't shown much interest in walking, I don't blame you since Foster likes to crawl around with you on the ground anyways. But you LOVE to climb. You're up stairs, on couches, climbing step stools and anything else that is in your way. You'll throw yourself back into cushions with pride after scrambling up a little chair onto the couch.

You say 'mama' and something that sounds like 'kitty cat' and have a very good meow. Otherwise, you and Foster have your own language of 'wee-oo wee-oo wee-oo' and shouts that you use to carry on your conversations. You will go on and on using your little voice to explain things with great enthusiasm and you crack us up with how much you talk with your hands. It will be interesting to see if your love of chatting continues after you start to use real words.

You love to help out in the yard and get into things. I can't set you down without you taking off to explore and likely try to eat some rocks or dirt. Foster has actually learned some things from you that he never did as a baby....like putting everything in his mouth, throwing tools, pulling grass, digging in dirt. He's even become a messier eater after watching how you approach things. Thanks buddy.

For your first birthday, you and Foster shared a party. We had over 70 friends and family join us to celebrate the Buchan brothers. It started out as a beautiful sunny day and then promptly started pouring as soon as the food was ready and outside on the tables. Luckily we had space in the garage for the bounce house, and plenty of toys inside for the kids to play with. You didn't pay much mind to the chaos, but loved the fact that you got to eat a cupcake. I'm hoping that the two of you don't mind sharing birthdays for a few more years, it certainly makes it more fun to have double the celebration with half of the set up.

You are such a fun-loving, rough and tumble kid. I have a feeling you're going to keep us on our toes and I look forward to watching you and Foster become even closer friends over the next few years.

Thanks for all the joy you bring us.

Much love,

Mom