12 Months...ONE YEAR!

Wiley

• You are an official walker at this point. While it's still a little shaky, you seem to prefer walking to crawling. You are even starting to be able to bend for a toy, stand back up, and keep walking!
• You are still chatting all the time. I still don't think you call us "mama" and "dada" intentionally, but you sure have mastered those sounds.
• You are trying to communicate and tell us things more now. When you need our attention, you often give a loud shout.
• You have started clapping now and will do so on command.You also wave hello and goodbye (not to strangers so much, but definitely to mommy, daddy, and other familiar faces).
• You now like to dance too! You bend your knees and do a swaying, bounce move anytime music comes on.
• You are still toothless, but the slobber seems to be increasing...so maybe sometime soon!

 Ryan

• You have taken your first steps and now take several at a time. Depending on what you're walking towards, depends on how far you're willing to go!
• You are still chatting all the time. You are making many different sounds and imitating more and more of what you see and hear.
• Your love for music hasn't lessened. No matter where we are: at home, in the store, in the car, if you hear music, you're dancing!
• You wave hello and goodbye on command. We have begun working on blowing kisses too!

We prayed so hard and long for you little boys. It seemed like we may never have the opportunity to be parents. And yet, here we are, celebrating your first year of life. You have brought a joy, deeper than we ever knew, to our home. It is just amazing to reflect back on this first year. You have been fighters since before you were even born. Once here, you continued fighting, defying the odds and reaching milestones much faster than you should have as preemies. It's amazing to think how far we have come in a year.  Happy Birthday, our sweet Wiley. Happy Birthday, our cuddly Ryan. We love you so much and look forward to all your lives have to offer you.