Happy Birthday Isabella Grace

Dear Isabella,

Today is your first birthday, a milestone that marks the end of infancy and the beginning of too many things to list. I am so happy to be your Momma and to be on this wonderful journey called life with you. One year ago at this very minute, I was laying on the operating table, holding Daddy's hand while Grandma sat next to me. The rest of the family was in the waiting room. We were all anxiously awaiting the arrival of our sweet precious girl. The other night I was giving you a bath and as you played with your "duck duck," I stared at your profile. It is the same little face I fell in love with all of those months ago on the ultrasound screen. And that love grew into complete adoration the second I saw your beautiful face in living color at 9:48 am, September 1, 2008. For the past 365 days, my love has grown every single day. And just when I think I could never love you anymore it grows some more. I often wonder how my heart never bursts but somehow manages to hold more love than one could ever think possible.

I marvel at you as you learn and grow everyday. You are crawling and pulling yourself up and walking with a little help. You grasp onto my hands and put one little foot in front of the other, so determined to get where you want to go. I can't believe that those little hands and feet are the same ones I kissed when you were just hours old. I know that in a short time you are going to let go of my hands and you will be off and running.

This year went by so fast. I am in shock. This is one time in my life that I feel as if words cannot do justice to what it feels like to be your Momma. The absolute joy I feel every time you smile at me and kiss me and hug me. The absolute pride I feel when say all of your new words, "hot-ball-balloon-swim-book-baba-bye pop" (your first sentence). The absolute serenity I feel as I rock you to sleep each night. I feel absolutely blessed by God to be your Momma.

If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times, there is a light within you that is so bright that everyone who crosses your path falls under your spell. And what a spell it is - you are the sweetest, happiest baby in all of the world. Everyone who meets you wants to bask in that light. There is a song that I always think of when I look at you-

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal

Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace

This miracle God gave to me
gives me strength when I am weak

I find reason to believe

In my daughter's eyes

There is no doubt in my mind that the world is a better and brighter place because you are in it. You embody innocence and goodness, and as you continue to grow I hope that you hold onto these things and live a life full of all the wonderful things you deserve.

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl!

I love you with all of my heart Isabella Grace,

Momma

“A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.”
-Carl Sandburg