To Amelia on Her First Birthday

Wow. I can't believe we've made it a year. The day you were born was a surprise, but a happy one. Your dad and I made it through delivery fairly quickly arriving at the hospital around 9 AM and you were born at 11:06. G'ma was there and so was Zadie and Bubbie and your brother. Uncle Andy, Aunt Wendy and your cousins came to see you as soon as they could. Becca was so excited to FINALLY have a girl cousin.

The past year has been something of a blur. You are still waking up at night, though definitely not as often. You finally said 'mama' (on Father's Day) after weeks of 'dada', but I swear your favorite word is 'brother'. I cannot even remember the blob we brought home from the hospital, the nights I had to wake you every few hours to feed, and I got used to having a baby that could breastfeed with ease.

Now you are almost walking. Annoying your brother. Smiling when I tell you no (as you go to do whatever it is again). Raising you to be the strong amazing woman I know you can be will be difficult, but enjoyable. Be kind to your brother. He has been more than patient while you have needed so much attention and help. If he acts out or annoys you or hits you know that whatever happens, he will always have your back. That he loves you unconditionally. That he will scare off boyfriends.

Be kind to your dad, too. He will freak out on you. Tell you no. Threaten your boyfriends. Know that he also loves you unconditionally. That he sat with you, hand on your back, when you couldn't sleep. He had more patience to sit by your crib until you could doze off than I ever will.

Looking forward to another year of watching you grow, seeing you run, hearing you talk.

Love,
Mom

21 Days and Counting

Until Amelia is one year old. Holy crap - where did the time go?

One day you're thinking one kid is enough, the next you're not feeling so well and realize that maybe all the food aversions aren't the start of the flu. Pregnant to baby to nearly a toddler in the blink of an eye.

And Kieran has nearly completed his first year at public school. In so many ways he loves it, he's really looking forward to the summer and his Karate camp. We do the orientation for that this Sunday.

Grandma is coming to visit so Ken and I are frantically cleaning house (which is long overdue since I gave myself the baby excuse to not do a ton of housework this past year) and the weekend of Mia's party should be a lot of fun. There's so much going on right now it's hard to keep it all straight.

Speaking of which, I gotta jet. Love ya, blog again... eventually. Maybe before she's 2.