...and many more.

Yesterday was Titus' first birthday. First birthdays are a strange condition for me. When Eden turned one, I was so excited. I remember thinking that we were not only celebrating her first birthday, but also celebrating surviving a year with a newborn. When August turned one I was excited that Titus had not arrived yet, and that I had a little more time to work on the whole walking thing with Augs.

But now Titus is one.

This is the first time in two years that there are unused bottles in our house. The prefolds no longer fit either boy. Onesies are packed in a box under the bed. Shape sorters and rattles have become a thing of the past.

When we announced we were pregnant with our third child, we had a lot of mixed reactions. Our family was excited and supportive, but there were others that were less than encouraging. I remember the conversation we had the day I took this picture: 

It was a warm, sunny day in early August. Titus was a little over a month old. Eden and August were playing with chalk outside, and Titus was observing/napping in my lap. Brandon came outside and we shared the same thoughts. That if we had listened to the world, if we had "stopped at two", we would have never experienced the joy of having Titus. His contagious laughter. His huge, pinchable cheeks. How he rarely cried and always smiled. How, even though having three kids under four was a huge challenge, we knew he was a blessing and were thankful we ignored what the world has to say about having many children. 

If we didn't have birthdays, you wouldn't be you. 

If you'd never been born, well then what would you do?

If you'd never been born, well then what would you be?

You might be a fish! Or a toad in a tree!

You might be a bag full of hard green tomatoes.

Or worse than all that....why, you might be a WASN'T!

A Wasn't has no fun at all. No, he doesn't.

A Wasn't just isn't. He just isn't present.

But you...You ARE YOU! And, now isn't that pleasant!

{excerpt from Happy Birthday to You, by Dr. Seuss}

I thank God every day that Titus isn't a "Wasn't". Even on the days where I scratch my head wondering why in the world God made me a mother. His grand design is greater than anything we could ever imagine. Happy birthday to my one year old baby boy. Praying we have many more blessings to celebrate!

(Missed today's daily photo? Click here.)