Tuesday, June 28, 2011

to my daughter on her first birthday

dear Scarlett -

i love you! i love you! i love you!

you are the most amazing person in my life. every day i love you more and more. it has been my greatest joy watching you change and grow every day for the past 365 days. i have not had a better year in my entire life! and this is just the beginning...

your smile melts my heart and your laughter brings more happiness to me than you can imagine. when i met you i felt a never before felt connection and thought to myself, "you are my favorite person in the whole world!" and next i thought, "wow, i am meeting my best friend right now who i know everything about, but also have the world to learn from at the same time." my heart keeps surprising my mind with how much it can grow with love for you. every day has been a new adventure and i am thrilled for the many adventures to come.

it's very common to hear people say, "i cannot believe it's been a year!" or "i cannot believe how fast the first year went by!" when their baby turns one years old. i am happy to say that i do not feel like this year went by in a flash. instead, i feel like we savored and experienced the most of it. we have done so much in your first year!

you have traveled the country coast to coast and met so many important family members and friends along the way. you have flown to europe and have three stamps on your passport and have taken an overnight train through the alps. you have gone swimming in lakes and pools and swinging in swings at many great parks. we have gone on long walks all over san francisco. you have gone on a boat ride with your cousins in wisconsin. you have met two sets of great-grandparents! we have had so many wonderful moments snuggling right after you wake up in the morning. you have laughed and smiled and heard me sing "the wheels on the bus" countless times. and so much more! hopefully i have recorded a glimpse of for us to look back on one day.

what i truly cannot believe, however, is all the growing and changing you have done in this single timeframe. it is incredible; you are truly a miracle! you have more than doubled in size! you have learned to roll over, sit, crawl, stand, dance, clap your hands, wave hello, and much more. you have six teeth! you have learned to say mama, dada, uh-oh, and baba. you can stack one block on top of the other! incredible, i say!

i have tried to cherish and hold dear every moment that we've spent together from your early morning feedings to reading our favorite stories at night. for sure, there were tough times where your dad and i were just learning how to be parents to you and tired times from balancing work and family; these will always be challenges. but there were infinitely more joyous times than not. the most wonderful moments were watching your expressions of amazement at discovering new things about the world, peeking in to see you sleeping perfectly and peacefully, hearing you giggle the purest giggles of excitement and happiness, and having family hugs and dance parties. i am so blessed and fortunate to be your mamma and to have witnessed your special life the past year.

i will never forget this first year. these memories are branded on my heart for ever and ever with overwhelming pride. i can only hope that i've been the best mamma to you and given you the best first year that you deserve. i hope i created a foundation for years and years of wonderful living, experiencing and learning for you to come.

you are my sunshine, my light, my heart, my life. you are the greatest blessing one could ever receive.

happy first birthday sweet baby Scarlett!

all the love and best wishes in my heart,

mamma

1 comment:

auntie k said...

LIKE!