All week I've been thinking back to this weekend one year ago. Each time I go over the events that brought Wesley into our lives, I'm floored. But I shouldn't be. We serve a BIG God. One that has his hand in all things, He plans all things, He is with us in all things. The BIG things, the small things, the not noticed things.
As I look back on this last year I am amazed. God brought Wes into our lives and it transformed us, but that's not all. I believe the way he came into our lives was meant by God to not only transform Steph and I, but also transform the lives of others. Relationships have been formed, people have changed, and that's Christ. He works in ways that we don't know. He uses our struggles, our doubts, our fears, our mistakes, our failures, and He shows His greatness, His grace, His love. Christ our Lord is about Love, and He certainly has placed this loving amazing little boy into our mess and transformed lives. Every time I look at this little blonde haired blue eyed boy I see what Christ has done for us. The way He brought Wes into our lives was truly a miracle. I can't help but look at Wes and constantly be reminded of what Christ did for us. His coming to earth, giving His life, conquering death, so those who believe can have life. That's what I see when I see my son.
Sam and I have been blessed to watch our little boy grow and develop over the past year from a small, completely dependent babe into a curious, adventurous one year old with a need for independence. Over the past year, we've talked about poop, spit up, sleeping and eating habits, and growth milestones. We've experienced Wesley's uncanny ability to make people smile, to interact with people, animals, and his toys. I've been able to see the world through a baby's eyes- seeing new things, hearing new things, doing new things, eating new things. I've learned about so many things that I take for granted as an adult. I've been able to see my parents and Sam's parents love up on our baby boy and form their own relationships with him. He's successfully turned my dad and my brother into mush and I love him for it.
Over the past year, we've been able to form relationships with Wesley's birth parents. We've traded pictures of our families, emailed back and forth, and have shared a love so strong for a little boy. As we approach Wesley's birthday, we are also planning on meeting with his birth family for the first time since meeting them on that snowy Saturday one year ago (how fitting that it's supposed to snow again this Saturday!).
I've tried to remember back to our lives before Wesley- what we did, what we spent our money on, how we spent our time, what we talked about. The big events are there, but the rest is blurred by a set of blue eyes shadowed by eye lashes too beautiful for a boy.
Some of the things I enjoy most about being Wesley's mommy: *rocking and singing my son to sleep*playing catch and trucks*his perseverance and determination*bright smiles*the conversations he has with himself*watching him learn something new*his squeals when he sees Remi*how he interacts with friends*his toothy grins*raspberries*blowing kisses*his ability to push my buttons*story time*how he pushes me to be a better person
Some of the things Sam enjoys most about being Wesley's daddy: *bath time! Wes loves it and I can't help but smile as I clean up the water he has managed to get all over the floor*his infectious smile*playing "catch" yep at one Wes loves to throw things, and if you roll them back to him he will throw them back*listening to him breathe as he sleeps on my chest*his squeals when he sees you after you get home from work*watching him grow*his curiosity*how he pushes me to want to be the man (husband/father) God desires me to be
Happy Birthday Wesley! We love you...to the moon and back!
