My smiley little one,
Just a couple days ago you turned one. I cannot believe that you are already a whole year old. It's been a whirlwind of a year. Just adjusting to having a baby around the house again was a huge adjustment. Also, your sisters had to really learn to be more gentle, quiet, and responsible in order to take care of you and make sure that you're safe. It's still an ongoing process, but they are learning day by day.
Also, just yesterday we had your birthday party. We invited all our friends and family, about 50-60 people, over to our home and celebrated your precious life and you turning ONE. It was really stressful to get prepared. Your grandma and grandpa flew in all the way from San Francisco days before the party to help with cleaning and prepping. They did so much. We all did. There were moments when I wanted to give up because it seemed impossible to get done in time, but you were our motivation. We would do anything for you and your sisters. You are all such a blessing to your Daddy and I.
With becoming one, you have definitely upped your game. You don't listen to me very well. There are times when you do what I ask right away, like you're really great at handing things over to me when I ask you, "Give it to Mama", but most times you are running away from me and trying to do what you want to do instead. You especially love the stairs. You keep wanting to climb up and go upstairs. You are very picky when it comes to eating. You whine, throw your head back, squirm your body, flail your arms around, try to hit the food away, and sometimes even hit me in process just so you won't have to take another bite of something. You much rather have your organic goat formula all day long. I hope you'll come around to real food and start eating a more balanced diet. I'll keep trying.
You say "hi" all the time now and started to blow kisses. You still need work on being "gentle" since you like to hit things including your food, people, books, etc. Haha~
You always jump up and down with overwhelming excitement and joy whenever I go in to get you up from a nap or in the morning after a long night's sleep. Your soft and puffy hair bounces all over the place. It's the cutest and most heartwarming thing. Going to get you after a nap is one of my favorite things to do every day.
You laugh at so many things. You laugh at voices I make. You laugh at looks I give. You laugh when I startle you. You laugh when I swing you around. You laugh when I tickle you. You laugh when I chase you. You just laugh all the time.
You also [finally] got your third tooth, but you haven't had any new teeth since 4 months old when the two middle bottom teeth sprouted out so you've been smiling with an underbite all this time. It's the cutest thing in the world. I know it's for the best, especially for your overall health and happiness, that you get your other teeth, but I am really going to miss when you stop smiling your goofy underbite smile.
You even started walking with help and taking a few steps on your own. To be honest, I thought you'd be walking by ten or eleven months because your older sisters both were walking all by themselves around that time. In a way, I'm thankful that you're developing a tad bit slower than your sisters in that area because it allows me to baby you for a bit longer. I can't help it with you. Daddy and my own parents (your grandparents) tell me all the time that I spoil you so much compared to your sisters at this age. I have to admit that I do let you get away with a bit more than I would have allowed for them. You will probably be our last baby. That makes me cherish and baby you much more. On top of that, you're so stinkin' cute!
I pray that this coming year of life will continue to bring growth and health. I pray that you would become more and more who God intends for you to be. I pray that my love for you would be enough on the days when I may fail you in every other way. I pray that you would continue to grow closer to your big sisters, that they would always watch out for you and adore you the way they do now. I love you and am so thankful to God that you have been in our lives for a year.
