Dallin

Dearest Dallin,

When I pulled you out of your crib this morning I gave you an extra long squeeze. Today you are 1-year old. I've had you for 365 days and loved every minute of it. You are a ray of sunshine in our lives. Your sweetness is felt by everyone who meets you. Total strangers do a double-take and turn around just to smile back at you. Doctors say that you are the happiest baby they have ever seen. Some have even taken the opportunity to smooch on your cheeks because they are quite delicious and so inviting. You are a curious creature. We have discussed getting an accident insurance policy on you because you are alway getting yourself into predicaments that leave you with black eyes a broken bone, a bloody nose or mouth. Please try to work on that, mommy doesn't know how many more accidents she can handle.

Daddy calls you "the professor" because you seem to be in deep thought often; studying everything and then contemplating the mysteries of the universe. Your big brother loves you but sometimes likes to experiment with your threshold for pain. He occasionally wonders "what would happen if I....." and unfortunately you end up being Frankenstein's monster.

Mommy adores you. Your giggles, your smiles, your squawks and chattering. Your cheeks, your snuggles, the way you adore your big brother and want to do everything he does. Even though I know I'm in for some trouble down the road with this curious kid, I don't want to miss a second of it.

We love you Dallin. You make this family a little bit brighter every day.