One Year

One year from today my son was placed in my arms for the very first time.

One year from today my son and I got to stare into each others' eyes without another care in the world.

One year from today my son wrapped his hand around my pinkie finger.

One year from today my family became a little more complete.

One year from today I got to say, "I love you" to my son while looking at his perfect baby face.

One year from today a miracle happened: my son was born.

In the past year I have had many sleepless nights.

In the past year I have seen many frustrations.

In the past year I have learned that what I want to do with my time isn't always going to happen.

In the past year I have learned that that's okay.

In the past year I have worried about my son's health, his development, his growth.

I have worried about my skills in parenting him.

In the past year I have watched him grow from a baby into a toddler.

I've witnessed miracle after miracle after miracle.

I have learned the power of faith, trusting my Heavenly Father to help keep my precious child safe knowing that he's not only mine, but His as well.

I have learned that I have an important job in raising this child of God.

In the past year I have learned that I'm not a perfect mother, but nobody is.

I have learned that despite my imperfections, nobody would be a better mother to my child than myself.

I have learned to understand and appreciate the atonement to a fuller capacity.

I have experienced the blessings of sacrifice.

I have learned that a baby can teach me more in an instant than an adult can teach me in a week.

In the past year I have learned that picture books can be the most entertaining books.

I have experienced pediatrician appointments, acid reflux, a 911 call, and moments where my heart dropped thinking for an instant my baby was going to get hurt.

I have watched my baby go from completely dependent, to holding his head up, to rolling, to sitting up, to crawling, to walking, to running.

I have held my son a little tighter on several occasions after hearing the trials of other parents.

I have felt the joys of realizing that sometimes there's no one better than mom.

In the past year I have learned that being a mom is one of the greatest decisions I have ever made in my life.

I have changed--for the better.

Today, with my son's first birthday, I see a future of love, learning, growth, experience, trial, and triumph for both of us.

I don't know what life will throw our way.

I don't know what Heavenly Father has in store for us as a family.

I don't know a lot of things.

But I know that, with faith, we will get through it.

And I know that Ryan was sent into my life for a reason and, likewise, I am his mother for a reason.

Happy Birthday Ry!

Thank you for everything.

I love you.