Your first birthday and your birthday will always be with our family. See Jake, you share that day with my little girl, Emma.  Your first birthday was a joint celebration with her. You and her had your first "friend" party, cake, balloons, everything. Every March 5 since that day I have woken up, said a prayer for you and wished you a Happy Birthday. I don't think anyone knew this until now. The way you had icing all over your face, the way your eyes twinkled in the light of the candle and how you beamed when everyone sang Happy Birthday to you! It was and always be an extremely special day to us. March 5 is a day that took on a whole extra special meaning to us in this family!

So with all of this said I wish you Jakey a very Happy Birthday! We miss you terribly! 

Of course there were many nights where you Dougie and I read stories in the bedroom together.   But one night in particular we were all being silly and you started patting (I guess more like smacking) me on the cheek.  Dougie started cracking up and I was laughing too so you kept doing it.  It was so cute how you knew what you were doing kept us laughing so you kept doing it.

I could probably write a story for almost every day we were blessed to have you with us…thinking about you and looking at pictures reminds me of so many…but a few of my favorite moments were…

…when Pop and I would come to visit or babysit for you and Dougie, you would see the door open and immediately come to greet us.  I usually came in first and you would crawl and smile towards me…but as soon as you saw Pop you would crawl right past me and wait for him to pick you up…you certainly were “Pop’s little guy.”

…during a visit at Christmas, I gave you a chocolate candy cane (because Dougie didn’t like peppermint)…well, you could not lick it fast enough.  You would not let it go until it was completely gone.  How funny it was and we both had so much candy cane all over us that day.

…but what was one of the nicest memories was how you loved to follow your Dougie around and do EVERYTHING he did.  He was the best big brother and would help you do what he did.  You would watch him and try to copy whatever he was doing no matter how hard it was for someone your size and age.  It was always such fun to see the two of you together.

Love you Jake,

Gra