Tuesday, April 5, 2011

one year.

Just over one year ago, our lives changed forever.


I would like to say it's been an easy year, but that would be a big, fat lie.

It has by far been the hardest year of my life.

But.... never have I been more content in my entire life. Never have I been this satisfied. And never have I ever been so sure that what I'm doing right here in this second, is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.

My child is the light of my life. She makes me laugh no less than a 1,000 times a day. Watching her grow and change each day is the greatest gift I've ever been given. Mr. P will never understand just how grateful I am to him that he's worked so hard to give me the opportunity to stay home with her. I am very well aware that I'll never get this time back. I am loving it.

It's definitely not all sunshine and puppy kisses though. I spent the first three months trying to figure out what I'd done to my life by bringing this little monster into this world. I cried, I wandered around in a flat haze of exhaustion, and I looked at her a billion times a day and wondered if I'd made a huge mistake.

The next three months were bliss as she grew out of the constant screaming and started to smile, coo, and laugh more than cry. She napped, she held up her own head, and best part? she laid right where I put her when I put her there. It was awesome.

Then she threw a wrench in my happy little existence when she started moving and sprouting teeth and fighting me on sleep. Just when I thought I figured it out, she said "aww heck no!" and put me back on my toes. But, I would have to say that months 7-10 were AMAZING. The best hands down.


Months 11 & 12 have been a challenge to say the least. Every day her personality becomes a bit more defined, and God help her, she starts to act a bit more like me by the minute. We've dealt with saying "no" and temper tantrums and sleep strikes more in the last couple of months than the rest of the last year combined. She's clearly getting us prepared for toddlerhood. Yay crash course.


Never in my life have the days gone so fast, the nights been so long, the tears been more plentiful, and the laughs been so constant as in this past year. She is the best thing that Mr. P and I have ever been involved with. I can only hope that we continue to shower her with all the love and laughter that we have this year. My hope is that she continues to grow into a happy, healthy, young girl who loves the Lord and knows how much we adore her. I already see such a strong personality that I can't wait to watch develop into a strong, Godly young woman.

I can't believe it's been a year. We threw away our empty can of formula tonight. We packed away all but a couple of bottles. Birthday toys made for toddlers have replaced the rattles and Exersaucer. The bouncy chair has been replaced with a big kid chair. There's two gallons of milk in the fridge and the cabinets are empty of baby food ::I am now crying:: The burp cloths have been replaced with size 18 month bloomers for summer. Her 12 month clothes have been packed away. I think it's safe to say that we almost have a toddler....

It's been a year. Wow.

Hands down, best year ever. Bring it on year two.

23 comments:

Sarah said...

So sweet!!! It is definitely the hardest, most rewarding "job" ever!! I can't wait to see her party pics!

Unknown said...

Love this! Such a beautiful post and one I'm sure Ella will love to read when she is older. Congrats on surviving the first year Momma....you've done a wonderful job!

Lindsey said...

So... I thought this whole Connor turning one thing would be a breeze.. thanks for making me a teary mess!

Anonymous said...

Aw, that was so sweet. I hope she doesn't out grow those cute chubby cheeks anytime soon...they are so darling.

Amanda said...

Now that I'm crying. I don't think I can do this in 3 short months! She is such a sweetie! Love her little birthday hat :)

Happy 1st year Ella & Mommy!

Jen Watts said...

Well honey thanks to you and watching life as we know it tonight I'm a big sniffling slobby mess ;)
What a sweet, sweet post and I share so many of your sentiments. That pic of her in her birthday hat just melts my heart!

No Longer Newlyweds. said...

M-
That was such beautiful writing. I read it and cried...you said everything I will want to say in 3 days. I love our babies!
S

Random Esquire said...

Awesome! Heh, adorable daughter.

You sound as happy as people hope all parents are. :)

-RandomEsq

Hayley said...

Such a beautiful post!

Well done to you for your first year :-)

Katie @ Loves of Life said...

Can't wait to see more party pictures!!

I feel the same way as you. This year? (ahh! almost a year for me! eek!) HAS BEEN AMAZING. Challenging? A little bit. But filled with love that is so unimaginable? YEP. And I'm so fulfilled being a mommy. I am.

Happy birthday BG!!! (a little late!)

Belle on Heels said...

9:14 am and i am crying. awesome. happy birthday, bg!!

A.B. said...

Beautiful post! Love it! Congrats on your one year old! She's beautiful and amazing and truly a gift.

Now give me more bday pictures!

Sassy Engineer said...

I can't beleive it has been a year! Happy Birthday to BG :) She is just growing up to be such a cute little lady. I hope the next yeard doesn't go too fast for you!

Newlywed Next Door said...

This was precious! E is such a gift and you're such a wonderful mama. :)
Happy 1 year to you both. YOU survived! :)

Emily and Andrew said...

Beautiful post!!!! Congrats for making it through the first year! Many of your thoughts were my own! Sometimes it's hard to put into words how we feel about our little girls, but you did it beautifully!

Ashley said...

I am, like, sobbing over here! Happy one year to you ALL!!

Lucy Marie said...

Happy Birthday to your sweet girl and ... Happy 1st Momaversary to you.

P.S. I LOVE her top in that second last picture!

d.a.r. said...

Ahh that first picture just makes me bawl like a baby. You are so precious and such a wonderful mother. Congratulations on all of your accomplishments as a mommy this past year--and happy birthday to your sweet little one!

Jillian said...

I'm in the three month horror stage right now:)

Becca said...

Happy birthday to her, she's precious! And I feel the same way about the fact that I register C for kindergarten next week... it's hard to believe!

Paige said...

Ah, so very sweet. Happy Birthday to her! She sure is a precious girl that I can tell by your blog has brightened so many lives!

Krista said...

Happy Birthday BG!! : ) And congrats to you too! What a doll!

Rachel said...

Congrats on making it to her first birthday!!! I am sure this year has been a roller coaster of emotions!! She is so darling though and I love reading about her on here!! Hope you've had fun celebrating her birthday this past week :)

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin