They always say don't blink because it all passes so quickly, and at the time when you are tired from sleepless nights, you are covered in spit up, and can't quite remember what your old body felt like...it's hard to see how that could be true.  Well I blinked and here we are one year after our lives changed forever, and Canean Parks Chatagnier was born.  Just like that, truly in a blink of an eye, a whole 365 days have passed.  Our baby boy who struggled while taking his first breaths and came into our lives rather traumatically, is vibrant and so full of joy that he brightens our days more than he will ever know.

Being Parks' mommy is the greatest blessing God has or ever will bless me with.  It has taught me patience and love on a whole other level.  Parks is stubborn and strong-willed like his daddy, has a silly side like mommy, and has the sweetest heart in the midst of it all.  

I didn't know what he would look like, what the sound of his giggle would do for my heart, that blueberries would be his favorite, that he would cross his little chubby ankles when he sits, or that  I could love someone or something this much.  I just knew I was going to be his and he was going to be mine.  

Time is passing at a scary pace and I am trying to stay conscience of un-plugging myself from the rest of the world so that I can be there for as many open-mouthed, slobbery kisses from my boy as he wants to give me.  Because I know that one day in another blink of my eye, I will be begging for those kisses as I look at a young man who is not a baby anymore, but will still have that same laugh that melts my heart and hopefully the same kind heart with a determination to do whatever it is that fills his soul with joy.  

Happy birthday my sweet boy, your mommy and daddy love you as big as the beach and then some. May your spirit stay pure and full of curiosity and light.  I hope that you will always know that the day you came into our lives, was simply...the best day.  Xo

If you are interested in reading Parks' birth story, you can do so here.