To My Baby Boy

Dearest Baby Luke— (Lukey bear, Baby bear, Lukey news, LuLu, Schnooble, Schnoo-schnoo)

Happiest birthday beautiful boy! Oh my goodness, I love you so very much. I am pretty sure Daddy and I prayed and fasted for you more than other of our other babies because you took a little longer getting here than the other 3. And we were so eager and so ready to have you in our family. I look back at this past year with you and think Heavenly Father saved one of his most perfect and precious souls to send to our family. Truly. You are such a good baby, robust, healthy, adorable, ever so happy, content, silly, a fast learner, and the very best sleeper...all dreamy qualities my love :)

All morning I have been remembering our special day one year ago, driving to the hospital in the afternoon and knowing you'd be in my arms so soon. I was contracting so much that day and had been progressing for weeks. I knew it was time and was so excited and not at all nervous (maybe because it was the the 4th time?) The delivery was easy and fast, and then I met you face to face. I saw your perfect mouth and big dark eyes right away—you looked so fresh and beautiful and yet familiar to my heart. You were eager for me, your mommy, and I was smitten. You had the cutest light blonde fluff, big hands, long legs and a darling nose. You nursed right away without any troubles and we had smooth sailing on that front for many months.

We came home from the hospital at such a crazy, wonderful time of year. The kids were almost bouncing off the walls with excitement over Christmas and you were icing on the cake to their thrill level. I hope you know how happy it makes me that you have 3 loyal, loving and adoring guardians, Luke. Those dear children, your brother and sisters, love you so much and I see how pleased they are to make you smile, make you giggle, play with you, and see you learn all your new tricks from rolling to standing to waving "hi." You were welcomed into a home with 5 full hearts ready to love and cherish you forever. So much sweetness for this mommy for sure.

You and I had a lot of time bonding those first few days and I couldn't help but think of Mary, the mother of our beloved Savior, over and over again. I have cuddled all of my young babies at Christmas time and held them more tenderly, singing lovely carols about baby Jesus. But I've never had such a brand new, fresh and tiny babe. I found so much reverence in our quiet, wee hours nursing and rocking and snuggling—what a beautiful gift you gave me in helping me remember and honor and feel closer to such a special woman. Holy infant so tender and mild never rang more true. Your December birth and name from the New Testament are to remind us of that holiest of births more than 2000 years ago, and to help you forge a special relationship with the Savior as you grow. You have already done that for me in your short year with us and I treasure all that you've taught me in being more Christlike.

My dearest, darling, Christmas boy, thank you for coming to our family. Thank you for being such an easy going, compliant little babe, for making me so happy with your huge and frequent smiles, for loving me so fully, for making this past year one of my very favorites. I love you forever and always beautiful boy,

—Mommy