May 5, 2008

One year ago today was the day I became a mother. I can't believe it's been a whole year already. It's gone by so fast. It really has been the best year of my life. Even though it's trying sometimes this is the best thing I've ever done. Raising her is my proudest accomplishment. Birthing her naturally was my biggest triumph. Every day I learn new things about her and about myself and Scott. Scott and I had a loving and strong relationship before Lily but since she's joined our lives that bond has only strengthened. Raising her together is the most important thing we'll each ever do and she is always our number one priority. Every choice I make is a reflection of that.

I knew I would love her. I thought about holding her for the first time. I imagined rocking her to sleep. But I never imagined how my heart and my whole body would ache to see her when she was away (even just sleeping in the next room) or the joy that I would feel when she laughed. It's completely overwhelming and wonderful. I know all mothers think their children are perfect but we truly got the perfect little girl. She's smart and funny. She teases and jokes. She's acrobatic and brave. She loves the wind. She adores animals--even the ones most people ignore like pigeons. Her face lights up when her daddy walks in the door at the end of the day. She's a mommy's girl when she's sad or tired but when it's time to play no one is better than daddy. She's a voracious reader and a wonderful dancer.

She's everything that I thought she would be and a million times more. I know she will continue to amaze me in the years and decades to come. Happy Birthday Lily. We love you so much.

Coming home for the first time.

Only a few days old.

She seems closer to a teenager than a baby sometimes.