Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday sweet Easton....

I apologize to anyone who reads this post, for the length and the sappiness, but this post isn't for you, it is meant for just one special little man.

To our sweet boy on the day of his birth:

It's funny because I sat down to write this letter thinking I could write it without crying. I was so wrong. But Easton, the tears I cry are tears of joy. This past year has been the best year of our lives Easton. There is nothing your dad and I would not do for you. You have brought us so much love and so much joy. You made us a family. Wealth, success, things - they pale, absolutely PALE in comparision to you. You are the most precious gift that God could have ever given us. Your dad and I have said over and over again that when we wake up each morning, we feel like little kids on Christmas day because we are so excited to spend time with you - you truly are our little present.

I loved you the moment I found out I was pregnant. But the moment when I first laid my eyes on you, I fell head over heels in love with you and my heart has been yours ever since.

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After your birth, I also watched your dad transform from my calm and collected, man of steel husband turn into a puddle of heart melting goo. You were placed into his arms and in his eyes I knew, he too, had given his heart to you.

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We basked in the "glow" of parenthood and soaked up every delicious moment. You were so peaceful, so calm, quiet and beautiful - gosh, you were so beautiful (and you still are!)

Then, all of a sudden you transformed into this sweet, bright eyed baby. You slept through the night at 5 weeks, you took to both nursing and bottle feeding, you rarely cried, you were perfect. We still couldn't believe you were ours.

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Those bright eyes turned into big grins and giggles Easton. You began to grow and light up our lives with your personality and your spunk. Grammy has always said that you just love life and "Easton is just happy to be alive!" and it's so true. You find the humor and fun in everything. Your little personality really started to shine through.

Life really started getting interesting once your little personality started developing. You loved playing games with us and being kissed from head to toe. You were our little buddy. We took you everywhere and anywhere and you just went with the flow. Our sweet and calm little sidekick.

How quickly you had grown from helpless newborn to bright eyed infant and then giggly buddy to eager learner. You were so excited to explore and experience new things. Whether it be new foods, new places (the zoo, the nature center, the library) - you enjoyed it all. And so quickly you learned to become independent. Crawling and playing - it all came too soon....

And now you are our beautiful, cheerful toddler. That word is so hard to write. Toddler. You are walking and talking and all boy! But just yesterday you were my helpless little baby, where did that time go? It feels like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms and rocking you back and forth as I sang you the sweetest lullabies. Tonight, when I put you to sleep, I read you a book, put you down in your crib and you sang yourself to sleep. You do it because, well, you're a big boy.

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It is so wonderful to watch you grow, so exciting you see you blossom, but please Easton, slow down - there is no rush - you have your whole life ahead of you to be a "big boy". Please, for now, let me hold you tight, rock you to sleep, and still sing you lullabies. I know you can do it yourself and your dad and I are so proud of you - but let yourself be little, time is going by much too fast already....

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Looking back at this past year, I can't help but feel a little guilty. I know you aren't perfect, but Easton, I don't care what anyone thinks, it is honest when I say - you are so close to perfect. Your dad and I don't deserve you. You truly are a gift. You have continued to be calm, patient, sweet and easy going. You have never given us a hard time and have given our hearts and lives nothing but pure joy.

You are a gem and completely one of a kind. I wish you could really understand how much you are loved and adored by all who know you. You touch the lives of everyone you come in contact with! We call you our little "magnet", people are just drawn to you and your effervescence. You are amazing sweet child. God has so many great things in store for you!

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All I can say now, my little E-toe, is I love you. Daddy loves you. Ritzy loves you. We all love you. Thank you for giving us so much this past year. We may have given birth to you, but you have given us so much more. Our life as The Loucks Family is so full with you in it. We look forward to what the future brings and we continue to savour every second of the present.

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Happy Birthday sweet baby boy. Our hearts overfloweth

Love - Mommy & Daddy