Happy First Birthday!

My Macey Jean,

One year ago today, we welcomed you into this world, into our family.

The day before you were born, I had been having contractions since the early morning. I sat on the couch for much of the day, timing my contractions and anxiously anticipating the moment I would meet you. There were so many emotions running through my mind: I was so, so excited to see your sweet face and hold you in my arms. I wondered what it would be like to have a little girl. I also felt nervous about the ways in which our lives were going to change. You see, before you came along, your brother was an only child. He was my first born, my sidekick for nearly 3 years. Was it possible to love another child as much as I love your brother? I had wondered that often during the 9 months I carried you, and as I counted down the final hours until our first meeting, that question weighed heavily on my mind.

At 10:12am on August 30, 2012, we welcomed you into this world. Your entrance was simple and sweet: the doctor told me to stop pushing and to just laugh and you'd come right on out. It was an odd request, but I followed his instructions- I let out a small laugh, and it was immediately followed by a loud cry. You had arrived, and you were perfect.

You were so easy to love from the very first moment I held you. The end of my pregnancy was a little dramatic-- it was filled with concerns about my fluid levels and thus several ultrasounds and weekly nonstress tests-- so I joked that you were going to be my little drama queen. That assessment of you couldn't be further from the truth. You are so full of joy every single day; truly, we all could benefit from living even a day of our lives as joyfully as you do every moment.

This past year of watching you develop, learn, and grow has been such a gift. Your tiny frame and sweet face fool everyone into thinking that you're a delicate, fragile girl when nothing could be further from the truth. You are my spirited child; you are adventurous and completely fearless. You are a sponge, soaking in the world around you with an enthusiasm that is contagious. You spoke your first words at 10 months old; you took your first steps a few weeks after that. You're surrounded by older boys-- your brother, whom you love dearly, and your older cousins-- and you don't miss a beat when you're with them. My tiny girl has no qualms about hanging with the big boys.

The relationship you've developed with Camden brings me so much happiness. You have your moments, of course-- usually when you innocently approach Camden and snatch whatever toy he's most interested in out of his unsuspecting hands-- but you two are becoming the best of friends and I'm so thankful that you're both able to experience the sibling bond. Watching you two rolling around in the ball pit squealing with laughter fills my heart up so completely.

When I was pregnant, your daddy used to wonder if he'd be able to relate to a girl as well as he related to your big brother. The answer is a resounding yes. You have such a special bond with your daddy-- you follow him around in the morning as he gets ready for work and you start yelling "Dada!" as you race to the front door as fast as your little legs will carry you when your daddy returns home in the evening. There's no doubt you're a bit of a daddy's girl.

But you're my girl too, Macey. You're my little shadow-- following me around the kitchen as I cook dinner, running across the room just to be picked up for a hug. Every morning, I walk into your room and am greeted by your happy grin. And every morning as we snuggle up for a few minutes, I tell you the same thing: I am so incredibly lucky that you're mine.

So the answer to the question that plagued my mind one year ago as I waited for you to make your entrance-- was it really possible to love another child the way I loved your big brother? Was there enough room in my heart? -- is unequivocally yes. I didn't know it back then, but there was always a space in my heart reserved just for you, my sweet daughter.

I love you, my perfect Macey Jean. Happy first birthday.

Love,
Mommy