my baby is one today

happy birthday my little girl!

i can't believe how fast this year has gone! i have been so nostalgic the past few days...remembering the LONG labor, days in the hospital, the anticipation and vivid memories of those days, and then finally welcoming our sweet baby. i still can't believe that i am so blessed to have her. i still remember being in the hospital and just wanting to hold her each second. looking at those sweet little fingers and toes that look just like her dad's. memorizing each sweet noise and facial expression she made. and feeling like there isn't anything better in this life than welcoming a newborn. not much has changed, except that she is the one who wants to be on the go! i still steal those little moments, sometimes in the middle of the night, or when she just stops by for a cuddle. but, i love her more today than i could have imagined. a lot happens in a year!

this little girl has brought us untold amounts of joy and love, for her and for each other. we are better because we are her parents. david and i always say that we almost can't remember life without her. what a difference a day makes.

i have a big blog-birthday post later...it may not be until the end of the week because we are currently in PA, but, i couldn't let her day slip by without publicly declaring how much i love my sweet girl!

she is all that a mom could hope for. she has the sweetest smile and the biggest blue eyes and the nicest kissing neck i've ever seen! she loves to cuddle and play and giggle all the time. she loves her daddy and her sister roxy. she makes our lives so happy. she loves to give cuddles and loves to her family, and her babies, and she loves to see how everything works. she is so curious and has been since birth. she likes to play chase, and folds her arms for the prayer, she loves to eat all kinds of foods (even international ones), she is a world traveler at the age of one, nand says lots of words like no, dada, dog, no way, yes, that, this, what, muma, uhoh, and no way (her current favorite!)and she brings a smile to everyone who greets her. she really is a wonderful child. she is so smart and beautiful and fun. i could just stay here all day and type about her! but, we must go celebrate a one year old day!

we love you matilda!



look how much you've grown! happy birhday!



we sure do love you...our little miss m!

ps...these photos were taken exactly a year apart! how cute is she?!!