Happy Birthday Son

Dear Hudson,
About a year ago this time, your mother was laying on an operating table while a team of doctors got ready to cut you out of her body. Your Grandmomma Susie and your Aunt Sarah are just minutes from touching down at Spokane airport. Everyone in our little world was focused on your impending arrival. Your momma was a trooper; just a little sleep and no food in several hours. The only thought in her head was finally having you in her arms. Your Grandmomma RaeAnne and I were right there in the room with you. Mama Rae was taking pictures and your daddy just doing his best to project calmness and positive feelings for your sweet mother.
At pretty nearly precisely 12:30 am, your grandmom and aunt touched down and the doctors finished pulling you out of your mother. I watched the whole thing over the sheet that had been erected. The nurses were concerned I'd faint or something, but there was no way I'd not watch over your entrance into this world. Your mother, sneaky little woman, watched you in the reflection on the glass of the equipment cabinets in the room.
You were pissed. Like, totally ticked off at the lights, the cold, the hands of the doctors, everything. You weren't screaming and hollering a whole lot, but I could just tell you were trying to figure out the best way to convey your total indignation. The guy who was weighing you and cleaning you off a bit asked if I wanted to cut your cord. It had already been cut by the doctors, now busily involved with sewing your mother back up. Well of course I wanted to. It's a father's duty, and a father's privilege.
Once that ceremonial duty had been attended to, I got to finally hold you. Holy cow were you tiny! So small, so very helpless. I took you over to your mother so she could see the result of all her hard work. Our world changed in the moment, my little man.
You've grown so much, I almost can't believe it. You're so busy. You're into everything. You rarely sit still, rarely moments spend in quiet reflection on the wonder of the world around you. No, you reflect on the world by getting in it's face and most likely trying to take a bite out of it. You yell, you holler, you scream. You still have so much to say and not really sure how to say it. You are an evening's worth of entertainment, all by yourself. You drive your cousins crazy, you wear your poor momma out, and you like to bounce on your daddy's head.
You are a blessing to our lives, my little man. You bring happiness and joy, in ways I did not know could happen, before you were born. I love watching you cuddle with your mommy, give her hugs and kisses, and laugh when you see her. I love being able to see you wake up in the morning, going from full zombie to full attack in less than 30 seconds. You're a big flirt, you drool, you like to pull apart the sandwich cookies before eating them. You can't stand being left out of things, especially Mommy/Daddy cuddles. As I write this, you are downstairs snoring and drooling on your poor Mommy. You are blessed to have her little man. One day you may begin to appreciate just how special she is, and how much she loves you.

You are loved Hudson. By so many people, in so many places. You are here by the efforts of those you will know, and those you may never know or remember. So many prayers have been sent Heavenwards for you, and so much thanks given. We all have high hopes and dreams for you, whatever your path in life is to be. You are so like your mother, and (I'm told) so like your daddy. And yet, you are very much your own person. I look forward to seeing that person grow and progress.
We love you son. Happy Birthday!

Dad.