One Year Old

From Echo's one year photo shoot, I'll be sharing more from this soon!

One year ago today, my life was changed forever. My sweet, beautiful and brilliant daughter entered the world. I love her more than I can say, and it seems that every day my love for her continues to grow at an astounding rate.

She has grown and changed so much and so quickly. On the first of the month she took her first steps and now she is staggering around the house at top speed like a tiny sumo wrestler. She began coloring with crayons for the first time (as opposed to eating them.) I've watched her confidence grow by leaps and bounds. I've seen her go charging across a room full of strangers without hesitation and charm everyone she meets with her gap toothed smile. She loves animals and babies and books and dancing. She is at once fiercely independent and incredibly affectionate. I continue to be impressed by her intelligence and out going nature even at this young age.

I remember so vividly my first sight of her. She was so tiny and perfect and whole, with ten fingers and ten toes and perfectly formed little finger nails. I marveled at the small curves of her ears and her full head of hair and her dark, clear eyes. We had a rough go of it at first. She seemed so alien to me and it's no secret among those who know us that it took me a while to bond with her. I was so used to my alone time and my schedule and getting a full night's sleep. Even though I loved her desperately it was a hard adjustment for me. It took me a good few months after she was born to really feel the deep bond and connection with her that I expected to feel immediately. By Christmas of 2012 I was hooked.

Parenting has made me stronger than I ever thought possible. I never imagined I could survive on so little sleep for so long or that I would make so many sacrifices for my baby without thinking twice. Everything I have done for her is 100% worth it and I would do it all again and more. All the sleepless nights and frustration and worry are rendered unimportant by one perfect smile or hug or laugh from her. She lights up whatever room she is in and she has brought my husband and I untold amounts of pure joy. We just love her so much!!

Happy Birthday to my darling girl. With all the changes through the last year I can't imagine what is in store for us in the year to come but I am so looking forward to sharing each and every moment with you!