yesterday, i blinked...

and this is what happened:

he went from this:













to this:

Zach turned ONE yesterday!!! It's been such an eventful year -- with his surprise early arrival, selling and buying a new home, and life in general...it really seems like he just joined our family - but at the same time, it feels like he's been a part of it forever!

We spent the day running errands, which included buying a balloon bouquet for Zach. He was so funny at the store, he just kept looking up at the balloons with a total look of awe and excitement, making a "whoa" sound every time he looked at them. He opened a few gifts in the afternoon. We baked his cakes. He was a bit cranky (I think he's cutting more teeth). We had a family party for him last night and he opened lots of fun gifts. He really got into his cake and was literally "caked" with chocolate himself when he was finished...I love that he loved it! It took him a long time to wind down (maybe the tremendous sugar intake, you think?)...but when I finally laid him down in his crib I couldn't help but have mixed emotions. He's growing up! My last baby is on his way to becoming a little toddler. I'm grateful that he's healthy and strong and SO good (seriously, SO good). I'm excited to watch him grow and learn...but there will always be a little part of me that wants him to stay that teensy tiny baby we brought home from the hospital one year ago. Ah, such is life.

Happy first birthday, little guy!