Dearest Brandon,
It's probably not fair that I write you a letter on your birthday, and you have to share this with Nicky. I sat down and contemplated how fast this year has gone. A year ago, you arrived tiny and small, and squishy. You stole my heart immediatley. I wasn't able to hold Nicky until hours after I delivered him...with you, I saw your precious face within seconds. You looked nothing like Nicky, and somehow I wasn't prepared for that. Speaking of Nicky, your brother did not know what to make of you. He screamed pretty loudly the first time he saw you in my arms. Right away you had so many nick names, Banjo (the one I dreamt before you were born) Brando, BB, Baby B, and soon Brandy Boy.
You have proven to be easier than your brother, and even now, you are so happy. You always have the biggest smile. Most people say that you are such an easy baby, so smiley, so infectious. Little do they know that you have developed quite the temper, but we are lucky that you haven't started actual temper tantrums as early as Nicky did.
You are very vocal now, and have conquered Ma, Da, Hi, Yeah, Uh-oh, and mayyybe we got a Bye. I think I heard Apple too. You use all these sounds interchangeably and now that you are in the Young Toddlers class at school, I wonder how quickly your vocabulary will blossom. You started walking right at 11 months, and you won't let anyone stop you. And you are so quick toddling around like a drunk sailor! You love the stairs and are a climber. You want to be as high and as tall as you can. You are also so agile, and have great balance and coordination. You are very good at stacking and putting things into their holes/spots. Your attention span seems to be lengthier than Nicky's was - IS - even to this day.
You have 12 teeth, and teething has been miserable for you, as bad as it was for Nicky. Your hair is a couple shades lighter, and as you fall to sleep, you lightly tug on your hair. This must comfort you - kind of like when Nicky takes the tags on his
bays and puts them in his ear as he falls asleep. I love to watch you sleep. You have not become attached to any toys, blankets, or bays like Nicky, but you do love your nini.
Your eyes are a curious grey/blue/grey - and the shape is definately mine. In fact you are pretty much my spittin' image. Actually there are 2 camps that think you and Nicky look like me, or that you and Nicky look like Dan. It's just so strange to me that you guys look NOTHING alike, but at times so similar. Your features are so different, so special, so beautiful, so Dan and Me.
At your 1 year wellness check you got the 45th percentile trifecta - weight, height, and head circumference. You clocked in at 23 pounds, 29.5 inches and your head is perfectly right below average - and thanks to your helmet, just P E R F E C T.
To compare, at 1 year Nicky was 25 pounds - 80th percentile, 30 inches - 75th percentile, and his head was in the 40th percentile.
As I have said before watching you grow up has become one of my greatest pleasures. You and your brother bring me so much joy that its obvious why I am here. For You. For Nicky. Forever.
Below is the update I sent out right before Nicky's 1st Birthday.
Nicholas had a good weekend, 2 more weeks and he is 1 years old! I can't believe it. 4 more teeth are coming in - 2 top molars and 2 bottom molars for a total of 12 teeth and lots of long and miserable screaming fits. Honestly, no one tells you about the teething. Its just terrible and he doesn't handle pain very well - just like his mommy. Nicholas has also become prone to some tantrums recently. My favorite is when he throws his hands up and falls flat on the grown and lays there crying. I have to try not to laugh, its so cute. We went Strawberry picking this weekend at a farm about an hour away and he enjoyed the berries and mud. Nicholas met a horse for the first time and i can't wait until he is old enough for some lessons. Yesterday during our walk, we stopped and watched a flag football game with all these little boys. He was fascinated and I am pretty sure we may have a little Tom Brady in the making! (I'm hoping for early retirement :) ) Nicky now says momma, dadda, "gat" for cat "goud" for dog, and duck. I think we've heard nanna for banana and ne ne for something else, not sure yet. Today was the second day in a row that he did not cry when I dropped him off at school and that made ME happy!
