One day before turning one....

Elijah turns one year old tomorrow! Can't believe it. Last year at this time, he was still in my womb. Now a year and a day later, he will turn one! When I was pregnant, I found the whole process of pregnancy absolutely amazing, beautiful, and mysterious. Yet, I still find myself absolutely amazed and in awe as I watch this little bundle of energy, joy, and curiosity grow into his own person. It is truly incredible to realize that your almost twelve month old has the ability to problem solve, to communicate, to express, and to exercise his own will. It's one thing to know that babies have the capacity for learning and to actually watch them in the process of learning.

Today, I was just marveling at how much he understands and communicates with me. He is constantly signing and pointing at the things that he knows with so much excitement. When he sees a bird in the air, a car or a motorcycle on the street, or an airplane in the sky, he quickly signs to let me know that they're there and seems so excited that he can identify those objects. When we are outside and the sun is bothering him, he signs for a hat. When he sees his dad's hat, he signs hat and wants his dad to wear it! When I tell him to put the spoon in his mouth, he does it. He surprised me today by showing me that he understood the word socks. (They are all in Korean but he is showing that he knows the English word to certain objects too.) Now, he knows how to give a kiss, how to use the gesture for "Nameste" and "Jai Maishi" (Nepali greetings), and he cuddles with his stuffed animal friends to let them know that he loves them. When we are in a department store, he now protests if we take him away from the toy he was interested in and he now grabs boxes and things off the shelves. He insists on using fork and spoon and prefers to feed himself than to be fed. He laughs, has a sense of humor, knows when he has done something wrong (like biting!), sings, dances, and climbs! A year ago today, he didn't exist in the outside world. But a year later, there he is, a little person. And, what a joy-giving little person he is! I had no idea on January 7th 2009 what an amazing journey of joy God had in store for me through this little son of ours. Elijah!!! You're going to be ONE!!! WOW!!! YIPEE!!!