I hardly know where time has gone-you're already one today! I can't think of a greater blessing than being your mother and watching you grow and change this past year. You have brought immeasurable joy and love into our lives and have taught me invaluable things about myself. I am so blessed by your smile and contagious laugh, the way you crinkle your nose in curiosity of the world, the way you waddle like a duck as you've learned to walk. I already see your sweet spirit and tender heart, your strong will and determination, your adventurous and courageous ways. You have taught me the importance of finding joy in the simplest things, like rollie pollies, sand, and bubbles. You've taught me what pure, unconditional, genuine love looks like and the importance of being "quick to forgive", patience and untainted grace. I will never forget the moment you were born and how I loved you so much already in that second in time, and I never knew that I could have such love for someone I've hardly known. You are my little angel, and I don't know what I've done to deserve such a perfect blessing, but my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for your life. My hope and prayer for you is that you will always know love and be loved throughout your entire life. I pray that you would grow in strength, faith, courage, and hope, and that you will be able to touch the lives of others just as you have changed my life. We celebrate your life with the greatest pride and joy and gratefulness to be your parents, for truly, I can think of nothing better in life. Part of me wishes I could keep you at this age forever, only because you seem to grow too fast, but the rest of me is in gratitude for every day that I can spend with you and watch you grow and develop into the beautiful baby that you are. I love you with all my heart and am so thankful for the blessing of being your mother.
"I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."
Your mama.
