ONE YEAR OLD!

A year, how has it already been a year since I first held my beautiful baby girl in my arms? There's no baby here now. They really do grow up too fast; while the days sometimes seemed really, really long this year has just flown by. We managed to keep a helpless child alive for a year, and just not alive, but absolutely thriving and learning.

I can honestly say that while the year wasn't easy, it wasn't as bad as the horror stories. People always say the first year of marriage is the hardest, the same with a child...I haven't found that to be true. I'm sure the teenage years will be MUCH harder than this was.

OK...here's our ONE YEAR UPDATE! How on earth did we get here already?!

*You now have 7 teeth, and at least 3 more hot on the heals of the last one (4 on top and 3 on bottom).
*You're walking all over and are beginning to run (or at least walk faster).
*Your smiles light up a room.
*You now can stand up without pulling up on something.
*You're sleeping through the night, for the most part.
*You weigh 22.5lbs and are 30" long.
*You're wearing 18-24 month clothing.
*You absolutely adore seeing other kids, especially ones your size.
*When you give hugs (whether to us or a stuffed animal/doll) you put your whole heart and body into it, usually knocking them down.
*You blow kisses to anyone that gives air kisses to you.
*You can click your tongue and even do the weird throat scratching thing that mommy and oma do.

Ave we love you more than we ever thought it possible to love anyone. You are absolutely and totally amazing!