"Where has the time gone?!"
If you were to tell me, after those first few weeks after I gave birth to my beautiful Aggie Jo, that time flies by, I would have sleepily laughed in your face. My deliriousness was bad, but not as bad as to believe those crazy words. Time seemed to go nowhere as I tried to figure out how to survive after all our relatives had gone and I was alone all day with this wee little one who needed me every minute of every, single day. I felt helpless at times when all I wanted to do was sleep for 3 hours straight. How was I going to do this?!
And just like that, in a blink of an eye, my baby girl is a little one year old, speed crawling across the floor to try and get into the bathroom to play with the toilet paper before anyone realizes and closes the door.
So here she is. My girl. My firstborn. My 1 year old.
Mama can't even begin to describe how much you've grown since Daddy and I first met you. You were once the size of a football and only weighing 6 pounds. We actually have a photo of you in a football hold while Daddy poses for the camera! You couldn't hold your head up by yourself and Mama and Daddy were so scared to even try and change your diaper those first few days because we thought that we would hurt you by touching you.
At first you had your days and nights mixed up. So while Mama and Daddy wanted to sleep, you wanted to eat, rock away in our arms, and stay awake. Grandma G came to the rescue many times during those first few nights at home. She rocked you from 3am to 6am a couple of times (just to give us some relief), and you know what? She was happy to do it, because it was you.
It didn't take us long to realize you'd be a curious, stubborn, smiley, funny little one. For example, after a month or so, we had a routine. Every afternoon, you and Mama had a "Dance Party." Mama would bounce you for an hour or two before Daddy got home from work so you wouldn't fuss and maybe take a little nap so that mama could fix Daddy some dinner. Those were the days.... and this probably helped Mama get some killer leg and arm muscles :P
You loved to eat. Every time you fussed, all Mama had to do was nurse you and you were golden. We called it, "snugging," and we would always say, "It's time for a snug and then sleep." Those were the days.
By 5 months, you were a pro at sitting up. Sure, you fell backwards sometimes and needed help sitting again, but you never needed help to push yourself up when you fell forward; my strong little girl. You loved to roll to your Left; rolling Right never seemed fun. You learned to laugh by coughing a lot (purposefully coughing because that's what you thought other people's laughing sounded like)... you still do it sometimes, too.
At 9 months, we gave up nursing. Mama was so sad, but you were such a trooper. Since we used bottles for trips we took in the car (and we took a lot of trips starting when you were only 3 weeks old), you transitioned well and now, you will only take a bottle if you are able to lie down on your back without being held; my little miss independent. Mama sometimes needs her cuddles, but you make up for it by your sweet slobbery kisses when Mama asks.
Some of your favorite things to do are: swing (you absolutely love to swing!), pose for pictures (you do this really cute thing where tilt your head and smile), walk with the help of your walkers (you have three and all get equally used), read (you have two books in your crib for when you are awake in your crib... if there is no book around you, you get upset), snack (you like to snack standing up at your Exersaucer more than you like sitting in your chair to eat meals), play with the iPod or any electronics around, and listen to Pat a Cake and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Every night, when we plop you on our bed to say "Night Prayer," you always get so silly and happy, like it's all about you. And you're right, it is... mostly. We pray you stay safe. We pray you grow into a beautiful, holy woman. We pray for our family, for the ones we love, and for people whom in this world are suffering. We pray that you feel God's love for you as well as our love for you. Afterwards, we do the sign of the cross (and we make you do it, too) and then you clap, like it's the end of a good story.
And every night before Mama and Daddy turn out the lights and get in our bed, we tip toe into your room, peek over the side of the crib, and watch you sleep for a little bit, whispering to each other, "She's our baby! We have a baby! She's just so cute!" And sometimes you readjust your sleeping position while we are in there watching you (that's when we hide, just in case you open your eyes and want to join in on the disbelief of our blessing that is You).
You have changed us. We now have an additional Being to live for. We have You, my dear Aggie Jo. You are our sunshine. Our little blessing. Happy Birthday, Baby Girl! I can't wait to see what God has in store for you this year and many more years to come <3 Mama and Daddy Love You so much!
