This has, quite possibly, been the fastest year of my life. I can't believe that a year ago I was staring up at operating room lights waiting to hear you cry. I can't believe it's been a year since the doctor held you over the drape and I saw your sweet face. I can't believe a year has passed since I held all 9 pounds of you in my arms for the first time.
I can't believe that twelve months have come and gone and you've been in our lives. What did we ever do without you?
You are so much more of a baby at this age than Ainsley or Freddie were. I'm not sure what it is but I'm amazed when you do things because you're a baby.
At 1, Ainsley and Freddie were running. They were toddlers. You have started walking, and you've come a long way in 3 weeks. But you are still unsteady and still prefer to crawl half the time. At 1, Ainsley and Freddie were both working on their first words. You babble and point and yell and grunt, but I don't really hear any real words in there. You say "bopba" for almost everything. Could be bye-bye, could be baby, could be puppy. Not sure.
You are clingy. You love to be held. You love snuggles and hugs and kisses. But at the same time, you are my most independent child. You can sit and play with toys for an hour on your own. You follow your siblings around and play with the same toys they do.
You love attention. You clap for yourself and look around waiting for everyone else to join in.
You love to eat. Actually...you love to feed yourself. I can barely get you to spoon feed any more. You want the bowl/plate/utensil yourself. No more mashed sweet potatoes or applesauce, you want little bits of food that you can pick up and chew yourself.
You know what you want...always. And when you don't get it, you get mad. You have a temper and that little head just shakes so vigorously when you are presented with something you don't want.
Since day one, you've been a momma's boy. I really am your favorite. But lately, you want all of daddy's attention too. You get upset when either of us leave the room. The minute daddy gets home you do your little body shimmy where you tighten up in excitement and then you throw your arms in the air for him to pick you up.
You LOVE Ainsley and Freddie. Freddie cracks you up with everything he does. Doesn't matter what it is, it's funny to you. You have started giving Ainsley big hugs when she picks you up.
You love games and you love to be surprised. Sometimes you pull the hand town off the stove handle and crawl around with it on your head, only to sit up, pull it down and say "Ahhhhhh!" to whomever is watching. Then you smile and do it again.
You have such a personality and you want to be in the middle of everything. You don't really like sitting in your highchair for meals. You want to be at the table. If Ainsley and Freddie are talking in the backseat, you try and talk too. When the older kids go to the basement to play, you rush towards the door...only to be stopped by mommy or daddy. You don't want to miss out, you want to be involved. I believe, you think you're as big as them.
After I had Ainsley and Freddie, so many people assumed we were done having kids. People are like that, we had one boy and one girl...perfect, no reason to add another. Ainsley and Freddie are my cake and ice cream, but you Cohen, are my cherry on top. That little extra sweetness that makes the dessert complete. You are everything that reminds me how blessed I am. It's amazing how such a little guy can be the last piece that completes our family so well.
I love you CoCo, no matter how big you get, you'll always be my baby.
Happy Birthday.
Love,
Mommy
