October 3, 2006

One

Dear Lil C,

One year ago tonight, I was just starting to hit the harder contractions after being in the hospital the entire day. Finally, at 1:05 am on October 4th, you, my beautiful baby girl, came into this world with your fist curled underneath your chin and my life was once again, turned completely upside down. In the months leading up to your birth I wondered to your daddy how we would love a second little girl as much as we already loved our first. I never could have imagined the amazing joy of becoming a parent for the second time, of becoming your very lucky Mama.

This year has been amazing, full of all those exciting firsts, and so full of love. You are adored by everyone who meets you. Your sister adores you completely, even during those moments when you knock all of her blocks over, or decide that one of her dolls makes a fine teether. One of your favorite things to do is run to the stairs, look back at me and your sister and say, "Go Up. Go. . go. . .go. . .go" as you crawl up the stairs as fast as you can, so that you can beat your sister to her room and get a prime location in front of her Cinderella vanity.

You are always up for a game of chase and tickle with your sister. She spent much of this year waiting anxiously for a chance to hold you, curl up with you on the sofa and stroke your little head. Now that you’re too busy for just lying around, your sister steals the cuddles where she can and often grabs you mid-step to give you a hug. Although often annoyed with these intrusive hugs, you sometimes return them with a wide open mouthed kiss that sends your sister into hysterics. Although there will be bumps in the road as you both grow, one thing that will never change is how much she loves you.

Recently, you have become very social and love to wave hello to perfect strangers, even cars that pass by as we wait for your sister at the bus stop or take a walk. If you’re unsure of someone though, you immediately lay your head down and grab hold tightly of my arm and shirt. I can’t help but love these moments, because it’s during these times that I’m able to truly cuddle you and hold you close. Those moments are becoming more and more rare since you’ve become an expert at walking, climbing, and getting into trouble.

You are easily able to climb up onto furniture now, and although you have no idea how to go down steps, your ease at going up completely amazes me. You are also no stranger to innovative thinking. The ottoman provides easy access to your port-a-crib and I fully expect to see you trying to dive into the crib within the next few weeks. When there isn’t a piece of furniture to assist you in your endeavors, you find other ways. Books make great stepping stools, and handfuls of Mama’s hair makes for great leverage. At this rate I’ll be bald before I ever get a gray hair.

Although you took your first three steps at about 8 1/2 months, you waited until September to start walking like a pro. I have to say that I was happy for the delay, because now you are unstoppable in your destructive adventures. Whether pulling all the DVD’s out of the cabinet, finding your way to the bathroom and shredding toilet paper, or dumping every single toy out of your port-a-crib, you do so with great enthusiasm. Often, on a return trip, you will hold one of your found "treasures" high above your head, swinging the other arm high above your head as well, and your daddy and I can’t help thinking that you would make the orangutans at the zoo very proud.

In recent weeks I have caught you "reading" to yourself and flipping pages with ease. Although in the beginning, only "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" would do, you have now expanded your reading tastes to include some of your sister’s books too, and Elmo is always a welcome treat. Speaking of Elmo, you adore Sesame Street and say "Elmo" with ease. I am hoping that all the hard work of turning our house into the backdrop for Elmo’s World this week is a hit with you at your party.

You seem to have an amazing grasp of language already. Your daddy and I were shocked when you sat up in bed last weekend, waved, and said "hi da". We were also amazed at your interest in the pantry closet’s contents, particularly the jars and bottles of spices. One of your favorite past-times is requesting that I open up the vanilla extract so that you can take a little sniff. A few weeks ago, after hearing me say it for the 100th time, you repeated back "wanilla" and I about fell over. Because I didn’t believe it myself, I called your daddy and let him listen to you repeat it over the phone. We laughed because you sounded so incredibly cute and you laughed too.

You’ve also become very proficient at baby signs and have decided that the sign for "more" applies to so much more than just food. Often, after reading you a book, you will look up with those big beautiful eyes and smile a little smile that shows how proud you are of yourself and tap your palm with your pointer finger. More stories please, and who could resist?

As I count down the hours until you turn one, I am a little sad that this first year is over, and that it has gone so fast. But I am also excited about what the coming year will bring. This year has been so much fun as I’ve watched your personality grow and blossom into this adorable and fun-loving little baby girl. You are so filled with joy and excitement when you do something new and have no problem giving yourself a round of applause, which sometimes turns into a spirited game of patty cake. Your smile, now with six teeth, has the ability to light up the room and especially my heart.

You are an incredible little miracle who has made my life so happy. I can’t wait to see what is yet to come.