One

Dear sweet Emily,

How is it possible that a whole year has already passed since the first time I held you?  You fit so perfectly into our lives that, in ways, it seems like you've always been here.  But at the same time, it feels like a blink since I held your tiny little fingers for the first time and marveled at how big your brother suddenly seemed.

You are such a special little girl!  Your birth was a pure miracle.  You failed your hearing test only to pass it the next day.  Then you were diagnosed with hip dysplasia.  You had no fever when you got RSV leading to us finding out at a "well-baby" appointment.  The ER doctor who saw you for a very high fever thought he saw a lazy eye, so he sent us to an eye doctor (who confirmed that there was no sign of lazy eye).  And yet despite all of this, you are perfectly healthy today.

You do things on your own schedule.  You took forever to roll over for the first time but then learned to sit yourself up, crawl, pull to standing and even cruise the furniture so quickly.  You have the ability to walk but you're terrified to let go.  I've told you a million times that I'm right by your side and I won't let anything happen to you.

You are a snuggler and the look you give me when you want to be held and I can't hold you completely breaks my heart!  You are jealous of the other babies getting attention at daycare but you play well by yourself most of the time.  You are sensitive and a simple "No ma'am" is enough to make you cry and stop what you're doing.  You also try using tears to manipulate us.

You are so smart and already say Mama, Dada, Bubba, cat, hi and bye bye but you don't perform for anyone and only talk when YOU want to.  You love your blankie and your puppy.  You LOVE music and your favorite song is the "Emily Rebecca Song" mama made up the first week you were born.  Your brother is your idol and he can always make you smile.

You have 7 teeth now and eat everything that is put in front of you.  Your favorites are yogurt and green beans but we haven't found anything you don't like!

You wear mostly 12 month clothes and size 4 diapers.  You weigh 21 lbs. 13 oz. and are 29.5 in. tall.

And most of all, you are loved unconditionally by your daddy, your brother and me!  I have had so much fun getting to know you this year and I am looking forward to continuing to watch you grow.  I am so excited about having tea parties and playing dress up with you.  And I am looking forward to seeing how you and Eli play as you grow.  I love you my princess!

-Mommy