The first anniversary of the night you were born!!!!! Happy First Birthday Braxton Cole!!

For never before in story or rhyme 

(Not even once upon a time)

Has the world ever known a you, my friend,

And it never will, not ever again....

Heaven blew every trumpet

And played every horn

On the wonderful, marvelous 

Night you were born! --Nancy Tillman

Today marks the anniversary of the day our sweet baby boy was born. So many moments of this day are such a blur. I have an inability to truly recap each hour of September 5, 2012. But I do remember the emotions and the overwhelming love that I felt for a tiny person whom I had never met. This feeling is easy to remember because I get to experience it again and again every time I look at you. You moms know the feeling...when your heart seems to be swelling out of your chest and tears come to your eyes because you love your child with every ounce of your being.

 

I felt this same emotion time and time again on your 1st birthday!! It was mixed with sadness because you are growing up so quickly, proudness because of the amazing easy-going tiny person you are becoming, and thankfulness for your health and survival of our first time parenting skills. 

We wanted to make your celebration very special even though you won't remember it. We wanted you to feel truly loved and spoiled on your big day and it was a success!!! To do this mommy and daddy took off work to spend the day loving on and playing with the birthday boy!!!

Your day started with snuggle time in bed with mommy followed with playtime in your very first fort with daddy. Birthday breakfast needed to be special so donut holes were a must. You loved them and had to be cut off before your day was ruined by a tummy ache. After breakfast we headed out for a morning adventure. We started at the Bentonville library for story-time. You managed to attend through one story but then you were ready to explore the books on your own. The library also had a aquarium which you loved.

 

Donuts!!!

Singing and shaking your bells to the singing

Next up after our stories was your favorite place of all time.....the Splash Park!!! You crawled and splashed and crawled and splashed until you were exhausted and starving. We strolled to the Bentonville square and had lunch at the station cafe. You ordered your very first kids meal, grilled cheese but you were unimpressed and preferred your snacks we packed. One thing you did LOVE was the ice cream cone!! We had so much fun watching you eat that thing. Hehe. After lunch it was home for a nap because we had a sleepy boy on our hands.

After nap time we went and visited your new big boy 12-18 month classroom at daycare to meet your teacher. We ended the day with a stroll around the block driving your favorite birthday toy the Cozy trick!!! Dinner had to be special too so of course you had a cupcake which you loved!!!

Today was also a big day for another reason!! We transitioned from bottles with formula to sippy cup with whole milk. You did great with the transition but we are  confused about how our nighttime routine should go since you have always fallen asleep rocking with a bottle. We are going to try rocking with story time and see how it goes.

Last bottle ever!!