I'll Be Walking for Christmas

Last Christmas Andy was two months old. I used to hold him by the Christmas tree at night when it was quiet and think about the baby Jesus. Andy was so quiet and peaceful that I was reminded of the newborn baby Jesus. I was thankful to have a baby boy and to be reminded of the Savior in that special way.

A year later, Andy is not the quiet newborn anymore. He is still mellow but he is developing a little personality. I was telling one of my friends that I felt sad that I am not as excited for Andy’s milestones as I was for Nicky’s. I call it the second child syndrome. I find myself still more excited with Nicky not because I like her more, but because she is the older child always doing the "new" thing. I seem to forget how old Andy is and what he should be doing. I don’t think we have as many pictures of him and I didn’t even let him sit with Santa at our ward Christmas party. I just figured he wouldn’t like it. Now I feel sad that he didn’t even get a chance at the picture, with a crying face or otherwise.

So I am taking the opportunity to remember a few of our favorite things about Andy. He has always been really snuggly and only started moving around 10 months. I think it was because he was so content being held and maybe he felt safer because Nicky desires to rough him up when he is within range on the floor. He still likes to snuggle. He loves to sit with me and put his head against my chest and watch TV. He loves TV and will watch anything we are watching. We don’t watch all the time but he is up for it whenever it is on. He makes kissy sounds with his mouth in the morning and I know he wants some smoochies on his big soft cheeks.

Andy loves to go outside and to the park especially. He says the word, go in such a cute way. He has such a husky boy voice and he says, “GOOOO” while he is climbing up the stairs and while he goes down the slide. When we get home from the park, Andy likes to ring the doorbell before we go in. If we don’t let him, he gets really mad.

Every morning he likes to get in bed beside his daddy and play jungle gym with Jeff’s body. He will climb under and over anything that he can and he likes to get up in Jeff’s face and make noises.

Andy has just started standing by himself and making attempts at walking. He has taken a couple of steps but has not mastered the concept. I think his present to us for Christmas will be that he will be an upright boy and moving on his feet. I am a little sad to let my baby go but excited to see our “Big Boy” be a real big boy.

As I contemplate our second Christmas with Andy, I no longer have the newborn to remind me of Jesus. However, I have the hope in my heart that during Andy's life he can remind those he is close with of the Savior through his choices, actions, and kindness. I know that is every mother's hope for her child and that is my hope for my Big Boy.