Tuesday, July 31, 2012

One Year Old

Dear Brooklyn,

You turned officially turned one year old just under an hour ago at 11:23 p.m., July 31st, 2012.  Clearly, you're already in bed by this point, but we had a great time celebrating your very first birthday!  Just a quick recap for nostalgia's sake:


  • 4:30 a.m. - You were up and ready to party and DID NOT want to go back to sleep in your own crib, so I pulled you into bed with Mommy and Daddy for awhile
  • 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 - You fell back asleep in your crib so that Mommy and Daddy could get some sleep too!
  • 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - One-year-old photo shoot and cake smash!  You had SO much fun!  You were COVERED in rainbow-colored cake!
  • 1:30 p.m. - Some quick errands, to Wal-mart to pick up Motrin for your one-year shots tomorrow :( and a quick trip to the post office
  • 2:30 - 5: p.m. - Nap time!
  • 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Supper time!  Your very favorite food!  Mac & cheese!  We picked up Velveeta shells and cheese and you definitely ate your fair share! :)
  • 6:00 p.m. - 9: 00 p.m. - A trip to Grand Forks for some birthday, soft-serve frozen yogurt from Cherry Berry.  Your frozen yogurt was FREE for your birthday!  You had your very own cup of 'Birthday Bash' frozen yogurt with mini m & m's and chocolate sprinkles!  Daddy picked out your clothes for the evening, so you were dressed in camo from head to toe, from your camouflage bow to your camouflage crocs!  
  • 9:30 p.m. - The gas station!  You got one last birthday treat:  a snickerdoodle cookie! :) 
  • 10:00 p.m. - A very tired birthday girl that was all sugared out changed into her jammies, brushed her teeth, read a book, and laid down to sleep after multiple birthday hugs and kisses from Mommy and Daddy.
I can't believe how quickly this first year has gone.  It amazes me how I seem to love you more and more each day, from your red hair to your cheesy grin to your sassy attitude that doesn't take no for an answer.  I love everything about you. One year ago, you came into our lives and you've irrevocably changed them forever, for the better by far.  I can't imagine my life without you anymore.  I live to love you, to chase you down the hallway and make you giggle, to whisper 'I love you' in your little ear, and to watch you grow and learn new things each day.  You walk now, and you talk in your own little language, babbling and giggling constantly - my favorite sounds these days!

I want you to have this story when you're older.  It's from a book we have called "Someday" by Allison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds, published by Scholastic Inc., 2007,

"One day I counted your fingers
and kissed each one.

One day the first snowflakes fell 
and I held you up and watched them melt 
on your baby skin.

One day 
we crossed the street,
and you held my hand tight.

Then, you were my baby,
and now you are my child.

Sometimes, when you sleep, I watch you dream,
and I dream too . . .

That someday you will dive 
into the cool, clear water
of a lake.

Someday
you will walk
into a deep wood.

Someday your eyes will be filled 
with a joy so deep that they shine.

Someday you will run so fast and so far
that your heart will feel like fire.

Someday you will swing high--
so high, higher than you ever dared to swing.

Someday
you will hear something so sad
that you will fold up
with sorrow.

Someday you will call a song to the wind,
and the wind will carry your song away.

Someday I will stand on this porch
and watch your arms waving to me
until I no longer see you.

Someday you will look at this house
and wonder how something that feels so big
can look so small.

Someday you will feel
a small weight
against your strong back.

Someday I will
watch you brushing 
your child's hair.

Someday, a long time
from now, your own hair will glow
silver in the sun.

And when that day comes, love,
you will remember me."

Every morning I wake up and am so excited to see your beautiful, smiling face, waiting for me in your crib.  I miss you when you nap.  You are so loved my beautiful child.  I want you to know that, always, even when the day comes that I'm not around to tell you that anymore.