Dearest Heron,

I've been such a lazy mommy! It's been months since I've written you a letter and you've grown so much in the meantime! I'll try to remember all the excitement you've brought us since you turned one, but too much has happened!

Last I wrote to you, Grandma and Grandpa were coming to visit. You had such a great time meeting them! We went to Tokyo (Imperial Palace & Ueno Park / Zoo), Hachinohe (the fish market, Fantasy Dome), Aomori (Asamushi Aquarium, Tony Roma's), Lake Towada & the Horse Park, Shipwreck Beach and a bunch of other places. You had a very busy summer (including a fun birthday party!) The fun didn't stop there! You also took a trip with me and Rhino to the US (your first time stateside!) You met your Pop, Grandmother, Granddaddy, Uncle Matt, Aunt Andrea & Cousin Amelia, and all your great-aunts and -uncles! You had your first plane trip (plus your second, third, fourth … seventh!) and saw Colorado and Texas! We were visiting for a month and you had lots of fun going to the zoo, the North Pole, Christmas shopping, visiting with family, playing with pumpkins, going to the Texas State Fair, playing at the lake, and so much more! It was a really long trip, but you were such a trooper!

You've grown so much in four months. What happened to my baby?? You started walking (and now, running!), talking (you say mama, dada, dog, door, hi, bye), and had your first haircut (which made you look so much like your big brother!) You're mischievous and sneaky, but also so sweet! You give us hugs and kisses, wave, and blow kisses. You stack blocks and roll toy cars and trains around. You're starting to get interested in books as more than just teethers (oh, and you have eight teeth!) You'll sort of play with Rhino, but mostly you just want to destroy whatever he's building! You didn't used to care much for Daddy and didn't like him holding you, comforting you, feeding you, etc. Since we've returned back from the US, you hug him and snuggle him and love to play with Daddy (he's relieved!) 

You're getting bigger, of course! At one time the doctors were concerned that you weren't growing enough. I know it was no big deal, you had just started cruising along and had weaned to cow's milk and solids. Last month you were up to 22 lb 10 oz (24th percentile) and 29.75 inches tall (15th percentile.) You're getting too heavy for me to carry around all the time (plus, you keep kicking your baby brother/sister!) You still love to eat and will chow down on pretty much anything (and lots of it!) I'm not exactly sure what your favorite foods are because you seem to inhale mostly everything! You love peanut butter, fruit, noodles, anything sweet, and rice. Yum!

I love watching you grow, little Heron. You've really started developing quite a personality and it is so wonderful! I'm looking forward to another fun month with you!

Lots of Love,

Mommy