-- Marc Brown, children's author
Dear Luke Taylor,
One year ago, you came in the middle of the night. While much of the world slept soundly, our family was wide-eyed, wired, and mad-texting across state lines from North Carolina to Delaware to Georgia to Alabama.
In hindsight, I wonder if maybe your entrance during the night was a foreshadowing that you'd never sleep well. A propensity for deep sleep (or even a 45-minute nap) is one strand of DNA your parents merely wish you had inherited, but alas, that was not what the Lord ordained.
But the Lord giveth, as he taketh away, and while He denied you the sleep trait, He granted you a nearly continuous smile that (mostly) atones for your mom and dad's sleep deprivation. When you flash that grin, we claim it: It's a good thing you're cute.
That smile, though, Lukey, is much more than a cute get-out-of-jail card. I've always said your brother's eyes were the windows to his soul, but your smile is yours. It is warmth and sweetness, and it makes a bad day bearable. I suspect that one day it will reveal a cheerful spirit, one created to encourage others, and bring light to a very scary world.
You are the messiest eater on the planet. I am not a mom, but mercy, I've not seen anything like it. Mealtime for you is a production in every way, and food finds its way into your hair, and your pants. Your Type A Cubby can only hope you grow up to learn more sophisticated table manners.
I'm not exaggerating.
You're a snuggler, which your parents treasure while they can, and you are happy in most any environment. Here are a few other thoughts from your mom and dad as they reflect on their Littlest turning one:
I'd describe Luke's personality with these few words:
mom: Happy, loving, and flirtatious.
dad: Happy and laid-back.
The cutest thing Luke does that melts my heart every time is ...
mom: Smile, or lower his head onto my shoulder for a snuggle.
dad: Smile.
The un-cutest thing Luke does is ...
mom: Not take a nap when he's tired, and make me carry him around like a koala bear.
dad: Whines and starts throwing his head back into his high chair when he's ready to be done.
Since having Luke, my favorite thing about him being a part of our family is ...
mom: Seeing him and Carter laugh together.
dad: Watching the dynamics between him and Carter and how they are figuring out how to be brothers, as well as the development of his relationship with his grandparents.
One time during the past year when I thought I was going to lose my mind was ...
mom: When he wanted to eat all the time. Sleep deprivation makes you crazy!
dad: Staying awake with a fully-alert Luke at 3:45 in the morning.
I laugh every time Luke ...
mom: Tilts his head and grins at me. His laugh is pretty contagious too!
dad: Sits in his high chair with his feet crossed.
After his first birthday, I'm most looking forward to ...
mom: Seeing him walk and talk.
dad: Seeing him rock Carter's world again when he starts walking.
It is miraculous how the Lord has knit you into our family as if you've always been here. As promised, you have only enhanced our family, not disrupted it.
Your parents' capacity for love and selflessness have supernaturally multiplied, and it is distinct evidence of the Lord's provision and faithfulness to them as they sacrifice every day on their children's behalf.
From my perspective, it's nearly impossible to watch you grow without noting the similarities and differences to your big brother. But lest that be a disappointment to you, Littlest, know this: you have the advantage in the ways of brotherhood. Unlike him, you were born a brother, and you will never know anything different.
We are wild over watching you grow up, and into a man who is a brother to the least of these, as much as he is to his own flesh and blood. We trust the Lord for that.
If there was ever a second-born to bring his family a measure of delight and joy they could not have anticipated, it is you.
Happy First, Littlest. You are better than a superhero, and we love you.
