12 Months...1 Year

 Lydia,

Today you are 1 year old. It is a hard day for this mommy as sometimes I wish I could go back to when you were a teeny tiny 7lbs 12 oz and hold you again, hold you while you are all wrapped up in your sleeper and blankies,  I want to take in your newborn smell again and watch you just close your eyes and drift off to sleep a deep newborn sleep.

BUT I would never trade this last year for the world. You have changed my life. You are completely and 100 % responsible for the new deeper relationship I have with our God. The God who has blessed me with the joy of being your mommy here on this Earth. I get to watch you grow, learn, discover and enjoy all the fun of being a kid. It's unlike anything I have ever felt before. You have taught me what it feels like to have a piece of myself walking outside of my body, to think of someone before myself 100% of the time. You have taught me more about the love that God has for us as his sons and daughters than any sermon, book, or song could ever teach me.

You my dear are a bright, funny, loving, sassy, picky, crazy, and breathtaking little girl and I cannot believe that your daddy and I helped to create you and that God knew exactly who you would be before I even knew I was expecting you.

Your milestones:

* You are walking! I mean walking walking, carrying things with you as you go (little people school bus check, sippy cup check, baby doll check!)

* You can now say Layla but it comes oh Yaya, you like to repeat it after us and will call for her out the window (you say Dog and then we say that is Layla and you say yaya!) cute cute cute

* You now take a big girl bath in the tub without your newborn/toddler tub. You seem to like the freedom and you still love the baths like no other! I can't wait to see you in the pool this summer.

* You have 8 quite possibly 10 teeth (you are a drooly mess right now and I'm pretty sure that is the other 2 breaking the skin)

* You threw your first tantrum where you sat down and folded yourself over with your head on the floor and screamed.... daddy and I laughed because quite honestly you look funny when you do it.

* You celebrated your first Easter and although we didn't do an egg hunt you looked adorable and loved all your Easter goodies!

You are so special and I pray that this next year is just as special as the first and that you remain healthy and happy. I can promise you that I will do all I can to be the best mommy to you and to take care of you always.

I love you sweet Lydia,

Mamma!