Moonbeams have birthdays, too

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 9:42 PM, EST

Moonbeams Have Birthdays, Too

Dear Parker,

Who could believe that one short year ago, you came into the world? Your Daddy and I laugh (and cry) about everything we've been through in the last ten years...but nothing compares to 2011. While 2011 was the hardest year of our lives, and while cancer took many things from us, we were given so many wonderful things...beginning with you. 

And in the last year, we have seen your sensitive side - you cry when Logan goes into time-out. We have seen your humor - you find laughter in all of us because you find laughter in yourself. We have seen you grow into a 26 pound one year-old! We have seen you take your first steps, speak your first word ("Bella"), and give your first hug (to me, on Christmas Eve). We have seen you play patty cake and end "rolllll" with "tide." We have seen that you have bonded with Mama (to you "Dot Dot" in a way that Logan couldn't from Reno. We have seen you look at your brother as if he hung the moon, and although he will likely never admit it, we have seen him look at you the same way. We have seen you grow, and learn, and love, and thrive, despite the hardest year of our lives. 

You were our comic relief. You were 2011's saving grace. You were the child we may not have if we had caught this tumor one year sooner. You made my year... because you started it. Because of you, 2011 will be the hardest, as opposed to the "worst" year of my life. I will never call 2011 my worst year (and I admit that occasionally Mama has had to remind me of that).

Happy first birthday, my little Parker Dean (aka Parker Doodle, aka Moonbeam) Frey...May you always light up the night and reflect the light of day. May you always find laughter in the hardest of times, and help others to laugh with you. May you always be able to carry the world's burdens on your shoulders with such ease and grace as you have in this year...and may 2011 be the hardest year of your life, too.

Love always,

Mama