Dear Grace,

Yesterday marked your one year birthday. One year ago yesterday, I got to hold you in my arms for the first time. My world was instantly flipped upside down. You are my sweet little girl, my baby, my little Gracie-loo-hoo. I still remember unwrapping you from that 'hospital swaddle' to see all your fingers, toes, belly button...I just was in awe of this precious gift that my Father in Heaven gave me.  You had the chubbiest little cheeks (all 8.7 lbs of you) and shockingly BLONDE hair! I cherished you just snuzzling into my chest like it was just made to fit your little squishy body.  You had the most wonderful new baby smell, and I couldn't help but rest my chin and nose on your fuzzy head.  Your daddy was instantly in love with you.  I still remember laying on the hospital bed minutes after having you and seeing your daddy holding you with the look of awe and adoration on his face as he gazed at his beautiful, perfect little girl. By the way....he still looks at you like that. And I don't think that will ever change!

I remember being so excited to bring you in our home. We walked you around showing you your nursery, and taking you on a tour of the whole house, while you just slept contentedly in our arms.  Some of those first nights were hard, but I remember being so grateful that despite how tired I was, I was blessed to get to hold you in my arms and rock you back to sleep.  I still love when you fall asleep rocking with me as I sing.

And now, one year later, you are still my world. As I sing to you, " I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck though you make my heart a wreck, you make my heart a wreck, And my life is a mess, my life is a mess, yes, a mess of happiness about YOU!"

Grace Nicole...you are ONE! You have been such a blessing in our lives. You are truly a happy child. You just have so much love for everything and everyone. I don't think you've ever met a stranger. In fact...you will smile and reach for any stranger at the grocery store, or wherever we tend to be. And I know that you bring joy to me AND all those new friends you make daily.  You are a smart girl, even though sometimes you are too smart for your own good.  You can throw tantrums like the best of them...but you also give the best, most slobbery, but sincere kisses. You can sign 'more' which you do a lot, in reference to food. You sure have an appetite! You can say 'hello' (which sounds more like, hell-ah?), Bye, Mama, Dada, Yeah (with a head nod), and you of course babble all the time (I just can't seem to understand all of it!).  You also point at anything and everything and then look to me  to tell you what it is.  You surprised me the other day, when I was singing 'popcorn popping' when you started to do the movements with me! You absolutely LOVE music.  If music is playing somewhere, you will stop whatever it is you are doing and dance! Even when my cell phone rings, you will turn to me, smile, and start waving your arms in the air.

You are crawling everywhere, and will take off walking IF holding onto one of our fingers. You have somehow not figured out that you really aren't even using our fingers for support, but you refuse to keep walking if we let go. I have a feeling that will change all to fast, though.

You adore playing with your cousins. You chase them around, and crawl all over them. If they are not paying you enough attention, you will pull yourself up to their face and start giggling and babbling at them until they stop what they are doing. 

You keep me on my toes. You are fast, and defiant. If I say no, you will turn around and furrow your brow and just loudly mimic any noise I made to get you to stop. You love to mess with our blinds...and you LOVE to open any cabinet or door that you are not supposed to.  

You only have 2 teeth (that came in around 6months) but you've been working on 4 more on the top for a couple of weeks that are close to coming out.  You still have those chubby cheeks and I kiss them constantly.  

You have the best giggle, and I love that you are so ticklish because I can hear it often! Baths are your favorite thing, and you are a wild child in the tub. No fear. You will put your head in the water, fling yourself around (much to mommy and daddy's dismay) and just laugh throughout it.

You are a Daddy's girl. I think you already know when it is about time for Daddy to come home.  You will go to the window, and look out.  As soon as the back door opens, you smile and make a beeline for Daddy. Then he throws you up in the air several times, as you squeal in delight. Even after you go to bed, he still has to open the nursery door to check in on you before he turns in for the night.

I'm still a sucker for you mischievous grin...and your sweet little voice saying, 'ma-ma' still makes my heart skip a beat.  I love experiencing things with you. Your eyes will light up as you see a new part of your world. And it makes me happy that I get to show you the world. 

Overall, I'm just happy that you chose us.

I love you, Grace. 

Happy First Birthday!

Love,

Mama