One year!

Sweet Ali girl!

I cried as I put you to bed  tonight. Getting you in your pajamas and thinking about this past year, I couldn't help but feel so many emotions. Happy that you are mine. Sad that you are growing so fast. Relieved that you are finally a happy girl. Worried about the trials and hardships you'll face in life. Excited to watch you learn and grow. Amazed at how beautiful you are. So many emotions.

I can't believe the time has come for this letter. You can't possibly already be a year old! My pregnancy with you dragged on and on and sometimes I feel like it never ended. That's how fast this year flew by. I feel like we just had you in your Easter outfit, painting eggs with Luke, and we are only a few weeks away from doing that again. You have been a hard baby. We have had a difficult time figuring you out. But we are learning every day. You have also been such a blessing in all of our lives. As hard as it's been, we wouldn't have it any other way. I could kiss your chubby cheeks all day. Even when you have stinky breath (and it stinks!).

The things I want to remember about your first year with us:
-Watching your relationship with Luke blossom. You absolutely adore him. And he, you.
-Visiting Disneyland 7 times since you were born! You lucky duck.
-Having so much fun picking out your outfits and shopping for you.
-Months 5-7 that were extremely difficult on everyone, you especially. Luckily we finally figured out your food sensitivities and you became much happier.
-You have always been a cuddly girl.
-Your first two teeth coming in on March 3rd.
-Your constant need to move. Whether it's crawling everywhere or dancing or bobbing your head.
-Your kisses and loves.
-Your stinky breath.
-Your LOUD screeches that typically mean you are happy. ;)
-Your love for Mickey Mouse, Yo Gabba Gabba, and Frozen. (Thanks to it's music constantly playing.)
-Your obsession with food. Haha.
-Your giggles in the morning. When I come in to pick you up and change you, you just sit and giggle and smile. Over nothing. It melts my heart.
-Your tantrums. (Lately, if you are crying or sad and we try to pick you up or comfort you, you'll flail your body in the opposite direction, usually hurting yourself and creating more problems. Diva.)

You have made me one happy mama. I just can't believe it's come so fast and tomorrow you will be my big girl. You are changing every day, and becoming more and more beautiful by the minute. I am so thankful for the joy and happiness you bring to our family, and especially for the way you are constantly pushing me to be better. I always want to be a better mom, friend, wife, and person because of my children. YOU make me want to be the best I can be, so that I can teach YOU how to be the best you can be.

You will always be my sweet baby. I know from experience with your brother that time does not slow down, no matter how much I beg. So as the time inevitably flies by too quickly, I will be smothering you with my kisses and hugs and reminding you all the time just how much I love you. I can never express just how much that is in words. You are perfect, and I'm so thankful you are mine.

Love you forever baby girl.

Mom

11 Months

Ali-gator-

I.can.not.believe you are almost 1 year old. I want to freeze time just for a little while because you are in SUCH a fun stage. You learned a lot this month and do all kind's of cute things. ;) You LOVE giving kisses to everyone. You blow them with the back of your hand, just like your brother used to do. And you even give a select few kisses on the lips or cheeks! Your favorite is to give them to your brother. You two just give hugs and kisses all day long. It's so fun that you play together already! You love Luke 99% of the time unless he takes something from you. Sometimes it's him being protective but usually just being a pesky brother. I feel like you two will always be super close, and that makes me happy.

You learned how to say "hi" and it's the CUTEST thing ever. Your tiny voice forming an actual word about makes me melt to the floor every time I hear it. You yelled it over and over at Costco the other day and made a lot of people smile. So now you say, "dada" "mama" "baba" and "hi".

Your new favorite toy is your baby. You LOVE her. A lot of times you'll completely stop playing with someone and just look around for her, then give her kisses ("mmmmmmaaa") and go back to playing with other toy. It makes me so excited for girly things! I can't wait to play princess tea party with you. ;)

You are no longer my good little eater. You don't even like snacks which is so weird to me. Goldfish, cheerios, crackers..you usually eat a few and then throw the rest on the floor. I'm wondering if it's just because you're teething? You are FINALLY cutting a tooth as of this morning. You are super sad so I hope it makes it's debut soon.

You had a pretty serious virus this month, that was initially diagnosed as pneumonia. The X-ray machine you had to get in was the most disturbing/sad/horrible thing I've EVER seen. It was so traumatizing for both of us, and I hope we never have to do that again. You couldn't breath well and had a nasty double ear infection. It's the first one(s) you've had which is opposite of your brother. So I'm hoping you don't start having horrible ears like him. We'll see.

I put a pony-tail in your hair for the first time last week! It was tiny, but it was cute! I've done it a few times since and hopefully by playing with the hair you have now, you will get used to "hair time" for when it grows more. ;) I have a lot to learn in that department!

You are the princess of your family and I'm sure it will always stay that way! Our little diva. You dance at the sound of ANY beat and I hope you always love music. As soon as you hear any type of melody of rhythm you rock back and forth and bounce your head. You LOVE Yo Gabba Gabba and could watch episode after episode. It's the only show you actually watch and enjoy.

I think you could walk soon. I don't want it to happen. My little baby walking! But we'll see. I have exactly 26 days until you turn 1 and I plan on snuggling, kissing, hugging, and loving on you as much as possible until then. Of course I will always want to snuggle and kiss you, but you won't be my baby anymore very soon. (But..you'll always be my baby.) I love you little one! You bring so much happiness our life and I'm so grateful you are ours.

Love,

Mom