To My Son {A Giveaway}

Darling Nathan,

Where do I even begin?

When we found out you were growing in my womb, or when labour pangs began? It was June when I discovered I was pregnant. My heart, still heavy from the loss of your grandfather almost one year before, knew you would be a boy.

People laughed at me for believing so steadfastly at such an early stage in my pregnancy. But I knew. Your daddy believed me though, and we thought about a name we hadpicked out in the off chance your sister had been a boy. But something wasn’t quite right. It was a good name, but the middle name didn’t seem right anymore. And so one day, I decided to look up the meaning of another name, the one that had belonged to your grandfather. When I saw the meaning, I knew that it was meant to be your name, too. And so you were Nathan Alexander before I was more than ten weeks pregnant.

Now, today, marks one year since your birth. What a year it has been!

You have been laughing since the day you were born, and you were only a few hours old, laying on my chest, when you began pushing yourself up to look around at me and our room. You amaze everyone who meets you, even now.

Your feats of strength are astounding. What other 11 month old baby can grab onto the towel rack in the bathroom as I’m carrying you out, and not only hold on so tight I am almost yanked off my feet, but can also almost completely hold their own weight up while mummy gets her balance back? While it’s not unusual to find babies your age squirming on the change table, how often does it take two people to hold a “baby” down?

I love that your personality is so distinct from Abby’s, that you have a fantastic sense of humour already, and that you love to clap and sing with me. I love how you point the way down the stairs when we leave your room after a nap or diaper change, how you smile when you know you’re up to something you shouldn’t be. I love that you do not get easily discouraged, that even when you fall you’re quick to get back up and try again.

I love how you can’t wait to get into the bath and will put your head right under the faucet while it’s still running water, and you’ll giggle and put your head back under again.

I love how in the last 6 weeks, you’ve gone from tentative steps to outright running, with or without shoes on your feet.

As you grew in my womb, I had (and still have) a feeling that you have a pastoral calling on your life. Whatever that looks like, know that we love you and will do our best to train you up in the way you should go, based on your unique gifts and personality. Your daddy and I love you so much. We pray over you every day and night. We are so thankful for your good health, your determination, your joy and your laughter. We can’t imagine life without you.

So, here’s to another year of growing and moving and laughing.

With all my love,

Mummy

And to celebrate my son’s first birthday, my friend Jade from Little Lily Bamboo is sponsoring a giveaway! Jade makes beautiful baby products from bamboo cloth, including but not limited to hooded towels, baby wipes, and baby wraps!

Visit her site or her Etsy store to see her beautiful, and durable, products. We bought a few items when she first started out, back when Abby was wee, and those have lasted long enough to use for Nathan. Now, a few years later, she has not only improved her product for long-lasting durability but even added more items.

One lucky person will get six baby wipes (your choice of colours based on availability) and a hooded towel (your choice of pattern based on availability, and size: baby or toddler)!

To enter, simply leave a comment with your favourite Little Lilly product or pattern. For extra entries:

• Follow Little Lily on Twitter
• Like Little Lily Bamboo on Facebook
• Follow me on Twitter
• Like Moonlight & Sunbeams on Facebook

Please leave another comment for each of the above!

This giveaway is open to residents of North America, except where prohibited by law. Winner will be randomly selected at 11:59 pm MST on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 and may have to answer a skill-testing question.