Sara: As I write this, Gus is taking a nap. It’s hard to believe, but today is his first birthday.

As I went into labor, I remember being so scared about taking care of a kid outside my womb. I remember wondering if I could make the sacrifices necessary to be a good mother. And I mostly wondered if I could function well on little to no sleep! Oftentimes, I think it’s easy not to do things because of fear of the unknown. If I allow myself, there are many things I won’t do because I fear the unknown. Gus has been such a blessing to our family, and has convinced me to do many things I wouldn’t have done without him – like play outside every day, go swimming often (I can’t swim), and eat three nutritious meals a day.

This past year has been one of the best of my life. Each day, Gus does something new to surprise me. Yesterday, I told him he couldn’t go the store with me if I couldn’t find his other shoe. He apparently couldn’t find it either, so he found his good shoes he hadn’t worn yet and gave them to me. So we put on his good shoes and went to the store! I never imagined that I could love a child so much or have so much fun with one.

All the sacrifices I’ve had to make as a parent have seemed easier than I expected before his birth. Difficult challenges become less difficult when I look into Gus’ smiling face. He’s a cute kid, and I love him so much! I can’t imagine life without him, or even the messes he manages to make each and every day. Each day, I thank God for the gift of Gus and the fun Gus has brought into our lives.

We celebrated Gus’ birthday three days early so we could get together with my family. It was so much fun for everyone just to be together and for Gus to play with his almost two-year old cousin.

Gus loved his birthday cupcake so much. After we gave it to him, he started to shove the whole cupcake in his mouth all at once! Thankfully, we noticed it before he choked.

Now, we look forward to celebrating Gus’ baptism day (or his “birthday” into the church) on Sunday. We celebrate birthdays each year to celebrate the gift of life. It is a sign of gratefulness to God. In our home we have also decided to celebrate his baptism day each year. This day too, can serve as a reminder of all the things of which we ought to be grateful. We also hope the celebration will communicate the significance of his baptism as he grows and help teach him the importance of our faith.