Dear Caden,

Today is your FIRST BIRTHDAY! I cannot believe you are ONE! It seems like only yesterday your mama was going through a surprised emergency c-section after laboring with you for a whole day! I anxiously awaited your birth as you would be my second birth baby I would shoot…yeah that didn’t happen as planned! Stubborn baby you just weren’t ready to come out! You just didn’t want to come on tax day… I know, I know..I don’t like tax day either! She didn’t even get to see or hold you until 3 hours after you were born. Your entire family on both sides were there & your daddy was so proud of you! He was a nervous ball of happy energy in the nursery watching you!

You were due one day before the one year anniversary passing of your Granddaddy Daniel, where a part of your name comes from. I have no doubt & have always said you were a gift from him & from God…that it was no coincidence when you were due! I feel that your Granddaddy planned that from Heaven so instead of us being sad every year at this time on the anniversary of his passing, he gave us all a reason to celebrate & be happy…he gave us YOU! He wanted another grandbaby to spoil so badly so he gave you to all of us & we spoil you for him! I know he’s watching you from above every single day! You sit & stare at the TV so much like he did that it’s scary sometimes! :D

I shot your newborn pictures a few days later after your birth at your Nana’s house where you didn’t want to fall asleep, until we took you outside in the hot sunshine where it knocked you out! Those are my favorite pics of you, outside in the blue suitcase! About one of the only times you weren’t crying!

As a baby you CRIED & CRIED so much you annoyed me quite often…but I still love you! :D Then when you were 3 months old we took a family trip to Texas & drove! OMG was I dreading that 22 hour, one way car ride when you cried so much like you did! Me & your sister fought over who’s turn it was to sit up front & not with you in the back on baby duty! Haha! But you did amazingly well on the long, insanely hot trip! Your Texas family loves you so much & were so excited to meet you! Fondest memory from that trip…your Uncle Bo driving around in circles at the HEB in Marlin while your mom went in & bought you like 7 pacifiers! To which you only liked one of those & how the rest of trip we all freaked if one of us couldn’t find it when you started crying! Yes, you really did cry *that* much! :D

My second fondest memory from Texas is the baby blanket you got from your great Aunt Corrina & Uncle Isi & cousins Megan, Jason & Heather! Your Grandma Anita sent them some of your Granddaddy’s shirts that she had left & they were cut up in squares & used for the back side of your blanket. That was the best gift you could have ever received!

Then for Halloween when you were 6 months old you were a lil lion! Your uncle likes to steal your candy so as you get older you’ll have to keep an eye on your Halloween candy! I then decided to offer Christmas mini-sessions & use you as my model…I booked a ton of sessions after everyone saw your cute face! You had an amazing first Christmas as most babies do…spoiled rotten! Christmas is a hard one for me cause I miss your Granddaddy so much around that time of year! He loved Christmas & you would’ve been spoiled even more rotten if he was here! I don’t even want to begin to imagine the mound of toys you would’ve had! I can’t wait to track Santa with you when you’re older like we used to do with Aaryn!

You started walking way before your first birthday & have been a mess & into everything since! You had Easter where your uncle Bo again stole from your Easter basket! He should be ashamed of himself!

Today you had an amazing birthday celebration at your Nana & Ta Paw’s house where you were surrounded by so many who love you! You got a butt load of toys & clothes! You totally weren’t interested in opening up your gifts! Your aunt Tricia made your cake & you’re the first baby I’ve seen who smashed it all up & threw it on the floor! You may have ate a few pieces but mainly just smeared it on your face!

I hope you had a fun birthday & can’t wait for all your others when you’re old enough to remember them! I only wish your Granddaddy Daniel was here to celebrate with you & not in Heaven watching down. But I know he’s with us all everyday & for that I am thankful! You’ll hear tons of stories about him when you’re older!

Happy Happy Birthday sweet boy! Wishing you many more!

WE LOVE YOU!

amy & bo

PS: Can’t wait to shoot your official ONE YEAR pics in your skinny jeans & new Chucks!