Hey Baby

You’re on your way to being one year old.
I’ve been getting ahead and reading what exactly I should be expecting, and I’m not going to lie to you, I’m a little overwhelmed, and you’re not even on the way yet.
At this point, you’re sort of just born in my thoughts.
I don’t think your mom even knows that I think about you as often as I do. It’s okay, for now, this is our first little secret we can keep from her.
I read that you should probably be an expert crawler at this point and that you might be getting ready to take your first steps. My first thought when reading that is that this doctor has no clue you’d be making your baskets, your throws, and goals at this point.
I read that this is the point in time that you’re going to love to throw things, not to be annoying, but because you don’t know any better.
I have to disagree respectfully. I know you know what you’re doing, and I just want to make sure you know that I’ll get my payback later when you grow up.
The first time you ask me for the keys to my car is when I will say that this is payback number 1.
I also started reading that you’re developing and beginning to get so many characteristics that you’ll keep for the rest of your life.
I’m going to do my best to take as many pictures and videos of you as I can. I want to embarrass you when you have your first date come through the house. I think I’m going to keep a little scrapbook titled “way to annoy my kid when they go on their first date.”
I can tell you that you’ll love it.
At age one, I read that you’re going through your phases to try and be more independent. While I’m going to compliment you for doing big kid things like eating on your own, I’m going to have to be a hard ass with you when it comes to getting in the car seat.
You’re going to start developing your language. I promise to do my best to talk to you like an adult. I want you to have nothing holding you back when you get older. That’s going to be so hard. I promise to take you to your grandparents as often as I can because you’re going to have to learn Spanish. I can’t take you back to the motherland with a big ole nopal in your forehead, and you can’t order tacos when you get older.
At this point, you’re also going to have to start eating healthy. I have to introduce you to fruits and veggies. I was spoiled when I was a baby, and I turned out with terrible taste buds. I want better for you, baby. So I’m going to start eating more veggies alongside you.
Lastly, I read that this is one of the most critical times for you in regards to socializing. I promise we’re going to find a club where babies and parents go. You’re going to learn how to do my famous fist bump, and we’ll make sure we go hiking to say, “good morning” and “hello” to everyone we see on our way because there’s nothing a smile and a friendly head nod can’t make better.
I can’t wait to see you make a fit when you turn 1. I will probably still have you take “a mordida” from your 1st birthday cake. I’m still undecided as to what you’ll have, but I won’t let you decide until you turn probably 5.
I love you forever and ever.