A Letter for Maximo

Dear Maximo,
Happy Birthday! I can't believe you're a year old. By the time you're old enough to read this and appreciate it, I'm sure you would have heard your birth story 1,000 times. I'm not even sure I can put how I truly feel into this little letter to you. You are everything to your dad and I. From way before I even felt you kick or we knew what your name was going to be, I was in love with you. As soon as you came into this world, your dad and I fought for you, even when we didn't know which way was up, what was going to happen or how even how to be parents. Instantly, we did everything we could to make you well and to get you to come home with us. That first month was so hard not having you in the house with us. You were no longer in my belly and the house seemed so empty at night. Everyday we'd get up and come see you and hold you close to our bodies to help you gain strength. When you finally came home, we felt like we were stealing you from the hospital, but were so excited to be parents to you at home twenty-four hours a day.
Over the next few months, you were getting bigger and bigger, enduring doctor visit after doctor visit, but taking it all in stride, only crying when you were hungry or tired. You were so tiny that the few preemie clothes we had didn't even fit and all the regular clothes we had hung off of you, so for at least the first three months, everything you wore had rolled sleeves and pant legs.
We are in awe with how much you've changed in just twelve months - watching you fatten up, stretch, lose and regrow hair, babble, laugh, eat, roll over, crawl, and stand up. We're starting to learn your personality - your need for sleep like me, but you sleep lightly like Dad. You love the water, you love books, you love food (well, up until about two weeks ago). You love to be outside, you love to be around other people, and you adore your cat, Flavius. You like to bite and throw things like a true boy, lucky for you they are still cute habits; they won't be forever.
All I can say is that we're so proud to be your parents. I'm so proud of how strong you've been this year and how resilient you've been. You bring such happiness to us. The second I leave you all I can think about is when I can be back with you. We rush home everyday to spend as much time as we can before you go to bed. Making you laugh is one of our favorite things to do - and once we've done it, we'll do whatever it was a hundred times over, just to keep you giggling. We really enjoy being your parents - we love playing with you and exploring the world with you.
So, happy first birthday, my love. I hope all your wishes come true.
Love,
Mom