One Year!!!

My Sweet Baby Girl :

You are one year old.

It seems like it was just yesterday I was pacing around the house waiting on my contractions to get closer together before we headed to the hospital.  I had gone to the doctor earlier in the day and Grandpa and Grandma had stayed with your brother and sister.  I went grocery shopping after my doctor appointment and then made chicken roll ups for dinner but I could hardly eat.  I was pretty sure I was in labor.  Daddy got home from work and we timed my contractions and let Grandpa and Grandma know they should come back to get your brother and sister.  And then after about an hour at the hospital, you were here!

We couldn't believe how fast you arrived, even though your brother and sister were pretty quick about their arrivals too.  You were a 6 lb 4 oz bundle of pure joy! I was so thankful you were here! You have been a source of pure joy to us in the last year. You have the sweetest personality and it's growing every day. I loved you so much from the moment I met you - but I love you 365x that now. My love grows for you every day. Every day I know you a little more and I know that when you are two - I will love you even more.

 You are so calm and precious. You love to wave your little backwards wave to everyone. You act shy when everyone talks to you and you lay your head on Mommy's shoulder but then you will smile and laugh once you warm up. Just this month you have started really clapping and it is so cute.  You ALWAYS wake up happy, unless you get woken up by your brother or sister. I love that about you. You don't say a whole lot of words yet but you squeal delightedly a ton. You say "mamama", "dada", and what sounds like "nineninenine". Ha ha ha!

You are a good eater but you are still so tiny. The doctor is a little worried about your weight and has encouraged us to start whole milk and push lots and lots of table food.  I am going to feed you all day every day if I have to precious girl!  You love your food so I think we can do it!  You still do not have any teeth, but you do a good job gumming your food. 

You are such a great sleeper.  You do usually like to stay up late but you also sleep until I wake you up about 845 and if we are home you will take a 2-3 hour nap during the day.  You are crawling lightning fast and I just recently got you a couple of toys that you are pulling yourself up on.  You were a late crawler so I am thinking you will probably be 14-15 months before you start walking and that is totally okay with me!  You still fit some 9 months clothes but are mostly wearing 12 months and a size 2 shoe. You wear a size 3 diaper.

We switched to a big girl car seat a couple weeks ago. You seem to love it and you think your big sister, who sits next to you, is so hilarious!!  The two of you have developed such a fun relationship over the last month.  There are so many times during the day I find you two giggling at each other and I just love it.  I hope you will be such close sisters growing up.  

 God blessed us so much by giving us three precious children. I thank Him every day for letting me be your mom. You are the best gift I could ever be given. Daddy and I love our little sweet pea with everything we have. You have stolen our hearts! Happy first birthday! I look forward to every birthday we will celebrate in your precious life.