It has been quite a year. We survived!

The last 6 weeks have been particularly momentous. He no longer wears a bib all day because the faucet of drool seems to have slowed to a minor trickle. And — AND! — he is sleeping from 6pm to 5am straight. It’s a miracle I hardly believed at first and didn’t want to talk about for fear of jinxing it. We are slowly but surely catching up on our sleep deficit from the last year. I am almost a normal human being again!

In hono(u)r of Creighton’s 1st birthday, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge all of the amazing people that have been involved in shaping the little person he is quickly becoming. We are so thankful to have had such amazing support in our friends and family over the past year.

Nana: Thank you for keeping your grandson clothed! Without you, he may have ended up wearing swimming trunks to daycare every day. You have also sent a number of amazing care packages with fun presents. The talking book that you recorded in your voice is particularly wonderful. I love that you think bath time is so special and I feel lucky that we have been able to see you every few months this year.

Papa: Remember how he used to cry every time he heard your voice? I think the moustache has finally won him over! Thank you for taking us to the gun range for our first time. We can’t wait for another wagon ride!

Gramma Bev: We feel very lucky that we got to see you twice this year! Thank you for coming all the way to New Orleans to babysit for 3 weeks. Thank you for the bubble bug and all of your care packages. I pass along all of the hugs and kisses that you send our way and we are really looking forward to a white Christmas on the farm.

Grandpa Hawke: We got to stay with you for a whole week in April while we visited for Jeff’s wedding. It was fun to watch you be a grandpa! Thank you for the birthday money – we plan to use it to buy memberships at the zoo and science museum!

Evil Wicked Step-Grandma Pat: Even though you have no children of your own, I think you’re doing an amazing job as granny. Thank you for all of the presents in the mail! It’s always nice to share a bit of Canada with Creighton and Brandon.

Tiffany, The Live-InBritish Nanny: My friend! Oh what a great friend to travel halfway around the world to babysit a cranky and fussy 4 month-old. Thank you for taking him out on photo walks around New Orleans and teaching him the value of a good song and dance. I hope the next time we see you isn’t too long, but by then you should be able to show him how to make friends with strangers and give him wedding MC pointers. We love and miss you.

Zlata, The Bosnian Babysitter: We miss you and hope the cool Saskatchewan summer has been fun. Thank you for your unending patience and for telling stories in Bosnian. You have introduced our son to the world of international Skype before he could barely sit up! Harris and Melisa are wonderful “cousins” — Harris taught him calculus and played brain-boosting classical music on his iPhone, while Melisa generously let Creighton drool all over her stuffies. We hope to see you in December!

Miss Eva and Miss Carrie: Our former daycare providers were very patient and indulgent as Creighton learned a little independence on his own away from home for the first time. They even taught him how to fall asleep (and stay asleep!) for hours in a noisy classroom.

Miss Teresa: Our current daycare provider is large and soft (I can say that because I know she’ll never read this!) and full of good places to cuddle. It is clear that she truly loves children and we feel blessed to be in her small classroom with 3 other kids.

It has been a remarkable year of discovery for all of us. I can hardly believe how fast time is flying and know life isn’t planning to slow down anytime soon. Thank you all for your supportive comments, love, and generous care packages over the past 12 months. We couldn’t have done it without you!