Happy First Birthday Sweet Harper

Sweet Harper Ann,

Today you turn one!

I can not believe that my baby is one already… your first year flew by way too fast. I keep finding myself remembering the day you were born. I get all teary eyed thinking about how much you have grown, how much you have changed and how any day now, you are about to round the corner from being a “baby” to being a “toddler.” I am savoring every second of your “baby hood” and wishing I could make time stand still so I can just cradle you in my arms and see you look up at me with your sweet little smile that melts my heart every time.

Here is where your journey began, One year ago today.

Your daddy and I walked into the hospital at December 29, 2009 at 7:00am. I was 37 weeks (which was a HUGE accomplishment) pregnant and Dr. Keeton was inducing me because my fluids were very low and it was no longer safe for you to be in my belly. Your daddy and I were over the moon with excitement! Here is the last picture of you in my belly before the induction began:

This next moment was one of the most magical moments in my life. At 5:24pm you came into this world after three quick pushes. I actually reached down and “delivered” you myself. your birth was beautiful and amazing. I asked Dr. Keeton about 100 times if you were breathing, if you were ok. She kept saying “Yes, She is perfectly beautiful and healthy!” You weighed 6 pounds 3 ounces, exactly 2 pounds bigger than your brother was. This moment when your daddy and I looked at your sweet face, I knew that God sent you straight to us from Heaven. I felt as if I was holding a slice of heaven. The newness, the innocence, the beauty of this moment will forever be ingrained in my mind. Your tiny presence in the room made time stand still. You were so tiny and so beautiful.

You stayed on my chest and in my arms for hours after your birth. You were not taken away from me. We just stared at each other and the room around us seemed to be spinning, but all I could focus on was you.

This moment I realized we were a real family of four and the feeling was so surreal. You made our family complete.

Here you are next to your first Baby Doll! You were teeny tiny and oh so cute! I love how you always curled up like this. This is how I imagined you were positioned in my belly, but upside down of course!

You began to grow so fast from this infant that I just getting to know into the sweetest little baby. Your favorite thing to do your first year of life was to nurse and I love that special time we spend together. I am so glad you are still nursing.

I just love your little thighs and baby fat. Your tiny little feet are super cute too. I want to remember the way it feels when I hold you in my arms and “breathe” your sweetness in.

Oh, and your little dainty fingers are too sweet. I wish I could feel your little hands wrap around my finger forever, but I know that everyday you are growing bigger, so for now, I just close my eyes and make a mental note of what this feels like.

Today you weigh 16 pounds 5 ounces! You like to play with baby dolls and “girlie” things. You say “Bay Bay” for baby. Sometimes you want to play with your brother’s trucks too! You get into everything. You love to “dance” to music. You love to clap your hands. You crawl very fast and can stand independently for a few seconds. You can also cruise furniture! On December 27th you took you first step to your daddy. I love you more than words can ever say. During your first year of life, I have learned so much from you. You need me in a totally different way than your brother does and I love that about you. You need me emotionally and socially. You need me to play with you every waking moment and although sometimes I need to be doing the laundry or cleaning the house, I know that soon you will not “need” me to entertain you, so I let the house go and we play, giggle, snuggle and give kisses. You have awakened little girl inside of me. I am so glad that you chose me to be your mommy and that God blessed our family with such a wonderful little girl.