Happy Birthday Ike!

Isaac you are ONE!! Where did the time go? I will be honest in saying that this first year did not fly by but did more of a mall walk:) You have waited until after your first birthday to make a habit of sleeping through the night, so time and Mommy's brain were slowed a bit.
But regardless of quality sleep, you are a joy. God has really taken care of our family. He does not give you more than you can handle and He knew I needed you. You are the easy going third child I could have never hoped for. I joke when people talk about what a good baby you are and say that you are just happy that you didn't get left at the grocery store which is a good possiblity with Mommy these days. I think I make the joke because Mommy doesn't do well with compliments but also because you are an exceptionally happy baby and I can't really explain it. I would like to think it is because you feel an overwhelming amount of love from Daddy, Will, Sam, and me. Sometimes that love is shown through a baby house made just for you by your big brothers and other times it comes more in the form of a noggin embrace with a slight rocking sensation from one of your brothers but I won't name names. Either way, you just smile and roll with it.
You are interested in walking but still holding out. I am sure it will be no time before you are off chasing after Will and Sam hoping to be included in their games. You are built very different from your brothers. You are more squishy and we love it. We loved your other brothers just the way God created them but we are enjoying your fabulously fleshy legs and your round bottom:)
Your eyes are very soft like a mean thought would never cross your mind. They are just very sweet and innocent. Feel free to toilet paper our house and then point at your brothers. I will totally have your back!
You say a few words like mama, dada, and ball but that doesn't stop you from getting what you want. You just point, make a noise, and look at your handler with those sweet eyes and we wander around trying to find exactly what it is you had in mind. I am not sure if we find whatever it is that you were wanting or if you finally just settle because you know we are a lost cause.
Ike, you are truly a delight, and I am very thankful that you have found a way to overlook my shortcomings. When I put your food in a bowl on the floor like a puppy because things are just too crazy to stop and feed you like a civilized person, you eat and play right under my feet. At nap time, when I can't rock you nearly as long as I would hope, you lay in your bed, hollar once, and then babble yourself to sleep. When you didn't wear shoes during months 6-11 because I just couldn't find the right box in the attic but I knew it was there so I couldn't bring myself to buy new ones, you ignored your urge to pull your socks off so that I didn't look like a half-brained mommy, just one with a child who didn't like shoes:)
God is a great God and I see Him every day in you. You are a sweet, unassuming spirit, and I am so thankful God chose me to be your mommy. Happy Birthday Isaac!