Happy First Birthday, Emily Rae!

I wrote this yesterday for my baby girl’s first birthday, and didn’t have a chance to post it since we had such a fun, beautiful day together. I’m officially the mama of a one year old!

 

Dear Emily,

One year ago you entered our lives. I heard it before- life changes completely when you have a baby. I never could have understood that though until we had you.

You have taught me so much. You have taught me to take each day moment by moment. To not fear change. To understand everything is actually ALWAYS changing. To find a deep strength and confidence I never knew was inside of me. Knowing that I grew you and gave birth to you makes me feel like the strongest person in the world.

I admire your friendliness and love of socializing and meeting new people. I admire your humor. I admire your presence and honesty; how you love to read books- but only the ones YOU want to read. I admire your warmth and cuddliness and big smiles. I admire your awareness and strength and wit.

Thank you for giggling and clapping for me when I do ballet for you. Thank you for laughing at my jokes. Thank you for practicing yoga with me. Thank you for always being game for a stroll and an adventure. Thank you for being nothing else but exactly who you are, and that person is someone I love truly, madly, deeply (as the 90’s band Savage Garden says).

Happy first birthday to our love! We will love you forever.