Miss Scarlett is One!

Happy birthday, sweet cookie!!

I can't believe it's been a year already. And yet, that means 1 year and 1 day ago she wasn't even here. It doesn't seem possible.  I love how much more I've become...how much more our family has become.  We are forever blessed to have her in our lives.

A few of my favorite things. Or 100. Looking back at the best year of my life.

Feeling her skin on mine. Introducing her to her family and friends.  Waking up, sweating from the hormones, freezing because of the air-conditioning, scared to death I was going to drop her while nursing at 3am due to exhaustion.  Getting her newborn photos taken. Her grunts. The way her legs were always up. Learning how to sacrifice in order to take care of her. Keeping track of her every move on my total baby app.  Deciding to change my life and become a stay at home mom.  Watching Adam and Jenna with her. Celebrating all of her first holidays with her.  Waking up in the morning to her sweet, breathy voice.  Walking in and seeing her smiling face. Singing the good morning song to her, and talking about the weather.  Picking out girly outfits.  Putting hair clips in her hair.  Watching her discovering things.  Dedicating her to God.  Experiencing the seasons together.  Relating to all of my new mom friends.  Learning her likes and her dislikes.  Worrying. Trying to learn to let go of the worry.  Worrying about something new. Praying to God to help the worry.  Watching God answer my prayers, and having her reach a new milestone.  Her clinginess when teething. Her giggle.  Her resemblance to my grandmother. Watching her face light up when she sees Daddy. Watching her grandparents fall head over heals in love with her.  Her kicks. Learning how amazingly intuitive Stephanie is. Having Rachael reach out for her whenever she sees her, even if it is on a daily basis.  Having her be the reason Jackie is excited to come home.  Reading people's comments about her photos on Facebook. Watching her grow.  Waiting for her to grow.  Learning to be patient while waiting.  Holding her and crying because she's growing.  Watching her chubby fingers pick up food and feed it to herself.  Sophie. Playing patty cake. Taking her to story time.  Tap Your Toe. Making up pretend relationships with the boys in her life.  Playing the "don't throw the sippy cup" game. Her love for jewelry. Learning that time away from each other is hard, but necessary.  Watching her show me what she learned at Grandma's house. Looking into her eyes.  Painting her toenails. When she finds her thumb. Pink everything.  Biting her cheeks.  Getting kisses from her.  Taking her out to eat. Taking pictures of her. Her nose crinkle. Crying when I look at her. Learning that she is smarter than we realize.  Watching her personality develop.  Introducing new foods to her.  Giving her a bath.  Making her hair curly.  Watching her with Ruby. Taking her grocery shopping, and talking to her about all the things we see.  Cringing when everyone at the grocery store wants to stop and touch her. Discovering her dimple.  Playing "so big".Teaching her. Learning from her.  Her twinkling eyes. Having Michael put lipstick on her.  Listening to her sing.  Feeling in her mouth for teeth.  Daydreaming about her future.  Learning to live in the moment.  Buying clothes for her.  Her teeny tiny feet. Switching over to 2 piece pajamas. Reading to her.  Listening to Daddy read to her, especially when he uses character voices. Encouraging her. The smell of her skin.  When she helps get diapers when we're changing her.  Snuggling with her.  Looking at old pictures of her. The way people react to her name.  Her first successful time in the nursery at church.  Having tea parties. Getting ready for her birthday party.  Small triumphs, like when she stood on her own for 2 seconds. Going for walks.  Playdates. Singing "Look at That Face" to her. When she splashes in the bath. How she helps get diapers for us when we change her.  Taking her monthly photos.  How she has taught us what unconditional love is.