Dear Brooks,

You, my forever sweet boy, turned 11 months on Valentine's day. You're just 1 month shy of turning [the epic] ONE! To say I'm a proud Mama is an understatement. To say you bring a kind of joy that fills my heart to overflowing wouldn't be saying enough. And there are not words to describe the kind of love I feel for you & your Father when I see you two play together. If I counted the number of times you make my heart smile each.and.every.day I know it'd be at least 1,243,660 times ;)

Here are just a few things that you've been doing lately that make my heart smile...

{you've been on this head-tilting kick...whether it's to a stranger playing peek-a-boo with as we wait in the check-out line at the grocery store, or you lean your head on my shoulder after I get you up from your naps...it's beyond adorable}

{The other night after a giving you a bath before bed I was trying to put on your diaper...which has turned into wrestling matches lately (haha)...and I decided to let you "roam free." Within about 3 seconds, you pulled yourself up on your rocking chair's ottoman and you let loose to pee on the carpet. I yelped out of surprise!!...which cause you to immediately stop the "leakage" and look at me with a shocked face. Then I was laughing uncontrollably!...only to stop to snap a pic before sanitizing the area. (Can you see the pee, right below the book?...HahAHhahhAhAa)}

{You are magnetized to the remotes in the TV room (you think they're pretty tasty I guess), and the TV for that matter (we'll get an entertainment center for it someday)...so when Daddy was watching a football game or we were watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, you were a little trooper when we put you in that box to play. Lately you've been a little too cool for your bouncer ;) }

{You have started to pull, crawl, climb, open, squeeze, and wedge yourself into just about anything, anywhere. You get stuck under the bar stools and your high chair often...but don't worry, I always come to your rescue!}

{You LOOOOOOOVVE playing chase around this ottoman! With me on your tail, you go round, and round, and round...}

{These pictures (above and below) are bitter/sweet for me Brooks...the box is one of a few that are filled with clothes that are too small for you. It's fun to go shopping and get bigger clothes for you, my growing boy...but I have a hard time packing up your clothes that have such sweet memories woven into their fabric...I've even kept the ones with stains from the first few times of feeding you solids. Those, I'll keep for memories; but the rest of your little onesies, pants, jackets, and shoes are still fine and they'll be ready for if you have a little brother in the future! isn't that exciting to think about sweet boy??}

{I bought these for you the other day...they're size 18-months...YOU're only 11 months!! please stop growing so fast :) }

{And bath time with you ALWAYS makes me smile...until I have to wash your hair, you most definitely have not liked that lately}

I'll love you forever and ever Brooks.

And one more thing, I canNOT wait for Spring time to get here! Taking you on walks to the park, playing in the yard, baby-swim-lessons at the rec center!!...oh, with you the sun is only going to shine brighter :)

love ALWAYS,

Mom