Solomon Edward Stagno

I'm sure every new parent's story sounds the same, but to each new parent it is unique. For the past week I've been thinking about what to say about & to my little boy on his first birthday. I know it sounds cliché, but words really are not adequate. Here it goes...

Solomon, Daddy & I wanted you so badly & God saw it fit to fulfill that desire pretty quickly. For nine months I constantly thought about your well being & wouldn't stop worrying until you were safe in my arms. Now the worrying is worse. The moment I went into labor & you were well on your way, I felt a combination of excitement, anxiety, fear, & joy. Twenty hours later my tears of pain turned to tears of joy.

For the past 12 months you have grown & changed so much that it's hard to remember the Solomon we brought home from the hospital as the Solomon today keeps us very busy! You were always a strong boy. The day we came home from the hospital you could already hold your head up quite well, you were strong enough to push yourself onto your back when lying on your tummy, & you scooted across the floor a few feet by simply kicking your little legs erratically. All when you were only 2 days old! I remember your first smile; you were 6 weeks old & we were at Sea World. Your first laugh was in your sleep when you were 11 weeks old. When you first started crawling - poor Gabe! I remember your first steps (now there's no slowing you down). It crushed me the first week you were in day care. I cried everyday because I hated being apart from you for so long. When you cry, my heart breaks. When you smile, my heart melts.

There are many funny things that you do: you have to wrap your binky strap around the nipple between your lips & the plastic. You love to bounce/dance to music. You love musical instruments (you are your father's child). Any time you try a new food, you shiver. You love people & fear no one (I don't know if that's a good thing, or a bad thing...). Your favorite toys are Gabe & Lucy, although you can never catch Lucy. You use the remote & coasters to "talk" on the phone. Knocking ketchup bottles over at restaurants cracked you up to the point of tears. You love being in the water, but hate having your hair washed. You love anything on wheels & have even learned how to make motor sounds quickly. You only say 2 words at the moment - "dada" & "uh-oh." I'm not terribly offended that you don't say "mama" yet. At least you know who I am. Since the second you were born you have had so much beautiful hair & it is usually the first thing people comment on when meeting you. Everyone loves you; you are very popular at the day care & at the church nursery. Although you are quite distracting at Life Group, I know many people who would be upset if you weren't there each Thursday night. You've been in 12 different states already & have, so far, done very well on planes. You have been to both the Pacific & Atlantic oceans. You are very strong willed. You are already great at sharing.

These notations barely scratch the surface of all I hold in my heart & memory of you.

I love you so very much. Merely thinking about you stings my eyes & makes them watery as it's so hard to contain all of the emotion inside of me. Many a night have I stood over your crib, just marveling at you. I don't think I've ever felt love for another so unconditionally until God brought you into our lives. Having you has opened my eyes to a new aspect of our LORD & His abundant Love for us, & for that, I'm am so grateful.

Happy first birthday, little man. I love you.

Love,
Mommy