My baby is one!

The day we got M, 3 1/2 weeks old, September 17, 2008

11 1/2 months old, August 9, 2009 (portrait by Holly Austin)


I am in shock that my little 18 pound baby is already one! I am so excited to see how much she has grown and changed. I love her so much and as cliche as this sounds, can't imagine my life without her! She has gone from a little 3 1/2 week itty bitty baby who would wake up in the night, sleep all nestled up and stay wherever you put her to a crawling, pulling-up, sleeping through the night, little girl. We have been incredibly blessed to have her in our lives. I can't believe that God matched us so perfectly with such a sweet, beautiful and special little baby girl. I have shed several tears the past few days realizing that my little M is quickly becoming less of a baby and more of a toddler. I can't believe how fast this phase of our lives has passed and I guess it has hit me even more that I'll never get that time with her back. We truly enjoyed that time with her and savored it, but it still went too fast. I am super excited, though, to see her grow!

At the age of one (tear) this is what M is doing:

-crawling
-pulling-up
-cruising
-pushing toys (while walking)
-saying: God, thank you God (points to the ceiling while saying it), yeah, yay, yes, thank you, Momma, Dadda, Ya Ya, Nan Nan, duck, mmmuh (kisses), mmmmm (when food is good), several other words I can't think of at the moment!

-she loves to shake her head yes/no and cracks us up by doing so every time we ask her a question
-understands lots of words/phrases: no, turn off the light, where's your baby (gives the baby hugs and kisses every time she sees it), milk, eat, bath, book, toys, play, drink, yogurt, night-night, paci, etc. We are starting to spell lots of things around here!

-loves to clap and dance (anytime she hears music or a beat)

-could live off of black beans, yogurt and Mum Mums (but we don't let her:))
-hasn't had to go to the doctor (for illness) this whole year...YAY!!
-loves Bible Class and Sonshine School
-loves other children and babies
-loves to give hugs and kisses
-loves to be rocked
-loves watching the fish at the zoo
-loves books (one of her favorite "toys")
-gets SO excited when Josh comes home from work...immediately crawls up into his lap and gives him a kiss (unprompted)


We love you, M, Happy 1st Birthday!! We are SOOO thankful God placed you with us! We have loved watching you grow this year! You are an amazing and beautiful little baby girl!! You'll always be my BABY GIRL!!!