HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

You haven't been born quite yet. It is 12:54 am and last year at this time I was watching the clock amazed (frustrated too!) that I hadn't seen your sweet face yet. I was hard at work focusing on every contraction. The hours to come would be full of position changes, foot rubs, back rubs, and bathroom breaks! I will write you again later today and relive the day with you!

love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Beauty of YOU

SO funny

Many people have made observations about you lately and they all say the same thing: you are funny, you have spunk, and you love attention! Most people wouldnt be surprised by this because most babies love to giggle and play. But you...you are different. You KNOW what you are doing when you make that face and throw your head back to laugh. You KNOW that when you crunch up your face into a million dents and dimples and squeeze your eyes closed that people will smile and AWWWWWW over you. You work it, girl.

I can't wrap my head around the idea that you will be ONE in 9 days....where did the time go? I swear I was just sitting on the couch wrapping presents while you were busy shoving your heel into my ribs. I couldnt even sit down to eat Christmas dinner because there was too much pressure pushing up whenever I sat down. Today is the last day of work for me before break and last year at this time I recollect the feeling of my skin feeling like it was pulled as tight as it could possibly get. I was sure my belly button was going to rip open. The elastic of my pants couldnt stay up because the material would bind and roll all the way down from my round belly. I was so excited to meet you. I was so ready for this adventure. Now almost one year later your heels dig into me from the outside as you scramble to nurse as fast as you can. Even Owen laughs when you spot the mark and come at me, mouth wide open, say OOOOOOOOOM, and latching as fast as you can. Its actually a little scary! haha You are walking almost full time and you can mimic most sounds. You talk ALL THE TIME. I've never seen anything like it. You are the girl I always dreamed of, and more. You are MINE :) ok ok, OURS :)


love, mom

Meeting Santa

You weren't too sure about the man in red, but you didn't cry. You did, however, go into a coughing fit right before and threw up all over your shirt and my arm. It smelled bad but Santa was used to it :) Though daddy and I stunk cleaning it up, daddy said he was just glad all the stuff (phlegm) wasn't in you any more. You have had back to back cold and ear infections. Though you always tough it out I was really freaked SUnday night when you wont up with chills. I never felt a baby shake before and I called the doctor immediately. Is it spring yet?

In other news - you are as sturdy as can be while you stand and play. You will take little steps here and there but havent made the commitment to walking yet. Its okay, take your time...stay my baby :)


love you!!!!!!!!!!

Standing...just hanging out

To watch you stand to play with something or even better - stand and clap for something - is amazing. Last night I watched you crawl to stand without holding on to anything!!!!! I literally froze in awe. How did you get here? How did you get this big? Where has the time gone?

You are still nursing away and cuddling into my nap like a baby, but I know this "babyness" is slowly fading away. This last year has been precious to me. I look forward to what is ahead for us but boy, I am going to miss that fat faced baby that had such a serious look! Even now, when I take a smiling picture of you and a second later take a serious picture of you - daddy will always choose the serious face. Its solemn and beautiful, I get it. But your smile is MY favorite! Chubby and wrinkled and a bit askew. I love it.

Last night I rocked you to sleep because I wanted to. I held you while you slept because I wanted to. I felt relieved I could still bunch you up into a little snuggle ball and hold you to my chest. I might have cried for a second. I cherish your life. I cherish my life with you and Owen and Daddy. Things are so good RIGHT NOW, I dont want them to fly by.

Enjoy your first real snow, my bird.

love you

WAlKING!!!!

4 STEPS..OVER AND OVER TODAY...WE ALL CHEERED! Owen begged for me to "make" you do it again. You clapped and raised your hands in the air. You were proud. We were proud too. You are awesome and we love you SOOOOOO much!!!!

Your First Thanksgiving and our NEW HOUSE!!

You loved spending your first Thanksgiving with both sets of grandparents, your aunt jenny and uncle brett, your aunt jess and uncle brian, and your cousins stella, sophia, and sadie! The entire day and night was full of laughs, playing, and rough housing :)

You ate almost everything we did - including a tiny piece of pumpkin pie!!

We moved into our new house this week. You arent used to such a huge area to crawl. You are working on your stamina as you usually lie down and take a break halfway across the living room..haha

Last night you took your very first unstable step for Daddy and me! We all cheered for you!! You are always laughing and kissing and your cutest new look? Scrunching your nose when you smile - adorable!!!!!!

I've noticed a dimple on your right cheek - I wonder if it will stay?

............___________..............

I'm so excited to raise you in our new home, Mollybird. I envision what your room will look like when you are older. How the birds on your wall will change to barbie posters and then boy bands... I wonder how many times we will have heart to heart talks in that room. My soul hurts thinking of times you'll slam your door and say you hate me....but I wont think about that now. For this moment I will soak up all the little things that you MINE, and our home OURS.

love,

Mama