This day in history: the nation elected Barack Obama and my son was born. We like to joke that it was historic for two reasons!

I want to write how much I love my baby boy and how much he’s changed and improved our lives, but when I think about it, my eyes well up with tears and stupid cliches tumble forth. You know the ones. My heart burst open. A joy I never knew. More love than I could ever imagine. That sort of thing. Also, my son completes me. Not in a scary Tom Cruise kind of way (and Ladies, hasn’t Tommy seriously climbed aboard the Whacko Train?), but in a period-at-the-end-of-a-sentence completion kind of way.

At one year, he’s mostly smiles. He doesn’t tell us what he wants so much as he tells us what he doesn’t want. He’s cutting his molars so he’s shoving fingers in his mouth constantly (his fingers, not mine). We ask him to show us his happy face and he looks up (often at the camera I’m pointing in his face) and smiles. He still loves his Jumperoo but he’s getting too tall for it. His favorite books are the Karen Katz pop-up books and the finger puppet panda book. (He does try to eat my finger then.) He’s crazy about baths.

I’m trying to teach him the sign for “more” but he’s worked out his own sign: He opens his mouth as if to say, “Duh, I want more. Can’t you see?”. He knows what I mean when I ask if he wants “more” and he gives me this little half-smile when I show him how to do it. I know, Mom. I’ve got this. But I’m not going to do it just yet.

It’s the same smile he gives when I ask him for a kiss and he doesn’t want to give me one. Fortunately for me, he often does give me a kiss when I ask. His version of a kiss? Open mouth, tongue out, touching mommy’s lips with his tongue. Not a lick exactly – more of a tongue tap.

Occasionally, he gives me a kiss unprompted. He grabs my ears, pulls my face to his and kisses me. And beware: Cliche ahead! My heart melts. Every single time.

He has a great giggle. Don’t all babies have great giggles? And a great head of hair (taking after me on that one). He has his dad’s cleft chin and a hint of his dimples. Steel blue-gray eyes. Lots of teeth. Easy disposition.

HE’S ONE YEAR OLD TODAY! I look at him and I can’t stop smiling. Also, crying. How is it that love does that to you? We’re so happy for the love we have but so scared something will happen to it at the same time.

My friend, Bernadette, told me that at this age the days are long but the years are short. How true!

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy. As your dad says to you every night, “grow big dreams, Dude.” Speaking of your dad, he is a great guy, a wonderful father who ADORES you, and a terrific husband. We’re very happy together and we love you!

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday series. (Only clearly today, I had a lot of words to go with my pics!) Check out more great pics at SevenClownCircus, 5MinutesforMom, and WordlessWednesday.