One whole year. Where
to even begin? I don’t even know where
the time went. You are still my tiny
little baby every time I look at you, yet, when I look back on pictures, you
are not the same baby you were a year ago.
I am not the same person I was a year ago. Sure, I’m sleep deprived, I don’t really have
time for hobbies, or myself most of the time, and everything is messy, but I couldn't
and wouldn't trade it for the world, my world, you.
It seems like so much has happened, it’s hard to reflect on
the last year. Two weeks ago I quit my
job. Everyone was sick so often that it
literally made no sense for me to work anymore because daycare was getting more money
than I was being paid. I can’t really
say that it hurt me at all. I get to
spend my days with you now, and I don’t have to feel like I am letting daycare
see all your firsts. I also don’t have
to sit and wonder who is taking care of you, and are they really doing the best
job possible? Not that I had any reason
to doubt them, it’s just a thing a mother wonders… constantly, with
everyone. I only worked 6 ½ months, but
it seemed like an eternity not being with you all the time. I am so glad that we get these last few
months together before the new baby comes, and life will be shared.
I really don’t think you will mind the new baby. You seem to love everyone (for the most
part). I can undoubtedly say that you
love all children and babies. Even when
one is crying on TV, you try to hand them a pacifier to comfort them. You are such a sweet girl. Your last day at daycare was hard on
everyone. The daycare staff cried, they
all said you were one of their favorites.
I’m sure they tell all parents that, but I somehow believe that it’s
actually true. You rarely cry, you are a
joy to be around, you are so easy to please, and the only things you make
remotely difficult are changing you, because you want to wiggle all around, and
putting you in your car seat. It was
hard on me because they made you a goodbye card, and I’m emotional enough as it
is being pregnant, so I just started bawling.
I worry that this is the wrong decision for only one reason: your
friends. You truly did have friends at
daycare, and I worry, especially since you love children of all ages, that you
will be lonely, and get bored with just me being around. I have looked, and have yet to find any sort
of mothers group around here, so I may need to expand my horizons to further
away to see if there are any groups out there, so that we can still keep your
social calendar full. We left our phone
number with your best friend’s, Lily, mother, since she had been out sick all
week, so hopefully we can still keep in contact with her, and you two can
remain friends.
Since daycare was closed on Good Friday, we took the opportunity
to take you back to the Zoo, since Momma and Dada were off too! Dada really wanted to take you back since you
slept through your first trip, and half the exhibits were closed. You really enjoyed it this time. You stayed awake the entire time we were
there, and we thought you may pass out on us around 2, but I think you just
needed a little break from seeing so many things, because once we rested you
were rearing to go again. That was
almost a full seven straight hours of action for you, and you didn't cry or get
fussy once. Maybe we were finally on top
of our game with feeding and changing you, but I doubt it. You were super good, I was very proud. I barely lasted that long, and I’m pretty
sure I insisted on more breaks than anyone combined. You loved seeing all the animals, but they
were all pretty much just “dogs” to you.
Every time we’d see a new one, you’d point and say, “DOG!” very
excitedly. Once we got to the birds,
some of them were ducks, but some were dogs too. You will learn. Some of the animals were crazy for you. I think you liked the painted dogs, and the
monkeys the best. The monkeys always
seem to put on a show for us when we are there, and they held true to that this
time as well. Afterwards we were all
pretty beat. We headed to Wal-Mart to
find the perfect outfit for your birthday (Dada went a little crazy on this,
and found what he wanted, but not in the right size, and we were on the hunt
until we found it) ate some dinner (which you slept through) and headed home to
crash.
Then we had Saturday, the 30th. Your first birthday. Wow.
You came into this world at 10:34 am, screaming, and full of attitude,
at 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 21 ½ inches long.
At your 1-year checkup, you weighed in at 20 pounds, 1 ounce, and 29
inches long. My, how you've grown. We had a lot to do that morning, since we had
a few things to pick up for your birthday party, so it was a pretty crazy start
to the day. We were a little worried all
morning because your birthday party was supposed to be outside, and at 6am, it
started hailing. At about 7am it was back to raining, and by
11am it was a cloudless sky. The weather
is bizarre. I was also concerned because
we had reserved a Ramada at the park from 11am to 4pm, and a week later the
fire department had reserved the park for the same day from 9am to 11am for an
Easter Egg hunt. I was scared,
especially with the weather, that they would not be out of our area on time,
and we wouldn't have the time to decorate for your party. We got to the park around 11:30am, and the
place was cleared out, so I don’t know if they cancelled their event, or they
really had their stuff together, and got out of there on time. We started decorating, and before we knew it,
we were almost out of time! Eep! Overall, we had a great time with family and
a few friends. We even invited your
favorite teacher from daycare, who came, and loved getting to spend time with
you. Since they had moved you from her
classroom 4 months ago, she has really missed you. You didn't really care for the BBQ part of
your party, probably because you didn't eat anything, but you loved playing
with balloons and looking at all the decorations hanging around. You had fun smashing your birthday cake, but
you needed a little coaching, and you loved it when everyone would clap and
cheer for you, and of course, you loved opening your presents. (Who doesn't?) Another tiring day on the books, but well
worth it to see the look of happiness on your face.
I feel like this is shorter than it needs to be. I feel like I am missing so much, but at the
same time it’s hard to write down every detail without going into the “boring” everyday
things, like how many diapers you had that day, and what you ate. You are a lovable child; I have yet to meet
someone who doesn't want to be around you, I actually have people ask me to
babysit you, instead of me having to go look for a babysitter, but I don’t take
many people up on the offer. You love to
do so many things. You love being
outside in general, you love baths (and even showers), you love bubbles, you
are starting to enjoy different foods, but yogurt hands down is your all-time
favorite food, which is surprising since you haven’t been eating it that long,
but If you even see a yogurt cup (meant for you or not) you go bonkers. You are finally starting to eat some solids,
but you are a little iffy on things that you have to chew, and don’t just eventually
melt in your mouth. It’s been
challenging to say the least, but for the most part, you are a trooper.
Not that you are old enough to remember it, but I really hope that you have enjoyed your first year of life,
as much as we've enjoyed having you as a huge part of ours. Neither one of us knew we would be able to be
so utterly and completely in love with someone so amazing.
Love you more than you will ever know.
Love,
Momma
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