Monday, March 16, 2015

One Year

Our angel is one year! Friends, family, and co-workers have been asking me “can you believe its been a year?” no, no I can’t. It was just last week we found out we were pregnant, just yesterday I had her, where did the time go? What happened to my new born?

Aria has developed into her little self already. She is the smartest baby I have even seen/met. I know that every parent must say that, but even her doctor is so impressed with her vocabulary, eating, and over all development. She says mama, dada, this, teddy, nana, papa, juice, and cookie. She is trying so hard to walk, just a few steps these days, but trying so hard.

As I said in a previous post, I wanted to write a letter to Aria on her First birthday and give it to her on a special occasion. Below is my letter.

Aria, my precious daughter, you are the love of my life. It is true what they say, you never know how much you could love someone until you hold your child in your arms. You light up my day every time I see your precious face. I can’t wait to wake up in the morning to see your smile and watch you learn and grow as you play. You have brought so much joy to our lives. You make everyone so happy! I must admit, motherhood isn’t an easy road. You have made me realize how patient and gentle I can be. You have kept me up literally all night long, you have screamed in my ears, you have given me trials and tribulations all in one year, but I would not give up those times for anything! Even now you have become miss independent and don’t like to cuddle as much as you used to. I miss those times you needed me in the middle of the night where I have to rock you for hours with you asleep on my chest. I cherish those times where I could just breathe you in each breath you took. I have spent a year of sleepless nights, worries of your health and happiness, questions of am I a good mother. You reassure me that I am doing things right when you fall into me with a hug or hold on to me so tight when I get you out of your crib first thing in the morning. I have spent a year trying to find the right words to say to you. I happened to come across another mom’s blog and she was able to find the words for the feelings in my heart.




You Won't Remember, But I Will
You won't remember the way I stood in the bathroom late that night in labor with you, fearfully and excitedly gazing up at the moon, knowing I was going to bring you into the world soon and whispering to you, "We can do this."
You won't remember the way you looked at me right after you were born, or the way I pulled you up next to my heart and marveled "Hi, baby" in your ear.
You won't remember the way you healed my broken spirit. The way you completed my heart. I was weak before I had you, and you made me whole again.
You won't remember the way I proudly watched you everywhere we went, you were always the most beautiful girl in the room to me.
You won't remember the way you made me laugh with all of the silly things you did. I saw how kind your heart was.
You won't remember the way I would brush the hair off of your forehead and the way you'd look up at me. Without any words, our souls could touch and say everything to each other that words couldn't.
You won't remember the tickle fests we had, and how I always cheated so I could hold you close and cover your salty little face in kisses.
You won't remember all the times I went to bed at night and felt such fear being your mother: Am I doing okay? Have I messed up too many times already? Can I be the kind of mother he needs?
You won't remember the way my heart broke and grew a little bigger each time you passed a milestone, watching the sand fall through the hourglass while feeling overjoyed witnessing you expand and grow.
You won't remember the way I would hold your little feet in my hands, imagining how much bigger than my own feet they will one day grow, and how I will have to let you go.
You won't remember, but I will... and I'll hold these memories in my heart for the both of us.

Please know that you will always be my baby, you will never do wrong in my eyes, I love you more than you will ever know.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Eleven Months

Aria has become this little person that has so much spirit and light that she amazes me every day. I feel blessed to have such a wonderful child. She is the sweetest, smartest, prettiest thing I have ever met. She is eating like an adult. With her meals consisting of anywhere from chicken nuggets to green beans to pineapple she loves it all. She is talking and mocking us to the best of her ability with words like mama, daddy, nah, yep, this. There is never a dull moment. She loves to mock her daddy for some reason and never me.   She still hasn’t mastered walking yet, but she still loves to move and groove.

Our nightly routine has become the best part of the day for me. When I get home I cook and we sit down at the kitchen table and eat together.  While I clean up, Andrew plays with her by chasing her around the island in her walker or dancing and singing with her.  Then Andrew runs her bath and she has the most fun splashing and giggling. She is defiantly a water baby. After her bath we have a dance party. They (whoever they are) say that you are supposed to relax right before bedtime, but we have a party. We put on some music and sing and dance around. Then its finally time to go to sleep. Andrew says good night and gets his kisses and I start rocking her. The first thing I do is pray for her. I pray for things that I would feel that she would ask God for or thank him for:

Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray to the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake I pray to the Lord my soul to take. God thank you for my family and friends and our health and happiness. Please let all of my friends at school have a healthy year and have lots of fun. Amen.

Then I hum “You are my Sunshine” or “Hush Little Baby” as I hum I just stare at her and kiss her sleepy eyes. I try to take in every second because I know this time won’t last. Once she is done with her bottle I put her on my chest and I pray over her. I pray that God keeps her healthy and happy. I pray that he gives me the guidance to raise her to be a God loving, successful, confident woman.  today I came across a prayer that seems to say exactly what I want to say:


Lord, I pray that your light will shine through them in the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)