I can’t believe it’s been a year since Ransom Handsome surprised us all and burst onto the scene fashionably early. His whole existence from conception till now has been an entirely different and precious season in my life as mom. His name means ‘redemption’ and ‘God will add,’ which is a banner I believe he will carry and live out through his entire life. But I treasure these moments with him that represent my redemption and my increase.
Having four years between babies, it has been so fun to start all the way at the beginning again and for every teeny little accomplishment to be the MOST AMAZING THING EVER. He just started waving bye-bye and I am absolutely BESIDE myself with his genius. His little expressions kill me, he truly is Handsome Ransom, and the little tuft of hair that sticks out of the cowlick on the back of his head? I CAN’T EVEN.
With my first two babies, I absolutely loved being a mom, but I contantly had this self-applied pressure in the back of my head to be ‘accomplishing’ something all the time, and frankly I let it steal a lot of the still quiet moments I could’ve had with them. After experiencing a loss and gaining some more wisdom and perspective over the last few years, I am much more intentional about treasuring moments now than ever before. I’m so thankful that I’ve gotten that chance. And while I’m always going to be a little sad with every milestone and birthday my babies encounter, I am also so excited and honored to watch them and cheer them on as they grow up. Of course I won’t exactly be complaining if Ransom turns out to be a late walker like his brothers though, let’s be real. 
Here are a wildly indulgent amount of photos to mark the first birthday of Ransom Joseph Dreyer.
Cutie boy.
Fake smile!
That expression!
How you doin?
Cutest little sad face with those two precious little teefies.
Brooding.
Thank you Kaye from House on Oak Street for helping me get some smiles out of him on your front porch!
I love that face! Hehehe.
Happy.
All the happy little expressions.
Hehehe, Baxter wanted in on the fun.
And here are some cutie pictures that I snapped of the birthday boy in his birthday outfit this morning.
THAT face.
Happy birthday Ransom Handsome! You are so very loved!