Dear Sammy,

I can't believe that you've only been here a year. It seems like such a short amount of time compared to all of the memories and love I hold in my heart for you. Every day with you is a precious gift, even when you're being the nuttiest of your nutty self.

I love you in the morning, when I lift you from your crib and your little legs kick out like a frog's, trying to swim through the air so you can get to me even faster. I love when you press your little face to my shoulder and wrap your little arms around my neck.

I love you when I put you in my bed for some play time with your big brother. I love how you climb all over both of us and make us giggle. I love how you rub yourself all over the blankets and then sit up and look at me with this look in your eyes that asks me if I think you're funny. I do. You are funny. Even Ben's favorite nickname for you is "Funny Sammy".

I love you at lunch time when you shovel grapes into your mouth so fast I can barely see your hands moving. I love how you kick your legs like a frog when I pick you up from your chair, because once again I'm not lifting you fast enough.

I love you in the afternoon, when I lay you in your crib and close the blinds. I cover you with your soft blanket and you rub it up against your face while your eyes roll back into your head. I put on your sleepy time music and close the door and you drift off to dream land to dream about plastic hotdogs and telephones.

I love you in the evening, when your daddy comes home and you crawl as fast as your little body can take you to the top of the stairs to wait for him. I love how you know that the sound of the door opening means your daddy is home and how excited you are to see him. I love to watch you try to climb the gate to get to him, because you are just as impatient as your mommy and daddy just doesn't move fast enough.

I love you at bath time when you come crawling at warp speed because you hear the water running. I love how you stand by the tub on your tippy toes waiting for the tub to fill, lifting up your leg to try to get in. I love putting you in the water, partly because it means you are finally going to stay in one place for longer than a minute. I love watching you and your brother play in the water together, giggling and splashing. I love when you it's time to wrap you in a towel, all clean and sweet smelling. I love to put you in your soft jammies, with your cheeks all rosy, and snuggle you for a few seconds before it's time for you to be on the move and in trouble again.

I love you underneath the moon, when I lay you in your crib late at night and you bounce around in there like it is the middle of the day. I love how happy you are when I cover you up with your soft blanket again, and I love to watch your little legs kick with excitement when I give you your bottle. I love to stroke your soft hair and your sweet little cheeks. I love to hear your breathing slow as you finally relax.

You are my precious little maniac and I wouldn't change a thing about you. I love you Samuel. Happy birthday, I can't wait to see what you have for all of us in your second year!