Happy Birthday Sweet Bebe'

Dear Gabrielle,
In two days you will be 1 years old. I can’t believe it. We never imagined this year going by so fast.

I remember the day you were born just as if it was a week ago. Daddy and I didn’t sleep a wink. We were like two excited children on Christmas Eve. We would quiet down and then one of us would roll over and ask the other, “Are you awake?” We spent the whole night talking about you, what you would look like, how your cry would sound, would you know us instantly? We had so many questions, so many unknowns…

Thirteen hours into labor Mommy had only dialated 3 cm and the doctor called for a csection. We should have known right then how you love grand entrances. We also should have suspected that you were going to be the kind of child that can’t be forced into something you will come around in your own time. Wow, did you ever. When they pulled you out you didn’t cry immediatetly. I think now you were looking around for us…or waiting for an appalause. You started to cry and when they brought you to me I said, “Hello” and you stopped crying and opened your eyes. I gave you a kiss on your forehead and told you I loved you. Then Daddy held you and you two just stared at each other calm and bright eyed for what seemed like a lifetime. There you were, our perfect angel…the one we’ve been dreaming of for a long, long time.

The hospital stay was a blur but we do remember quite well the drive home. We were a nervous wreck! Daddy drove about 15 mph all the way home while Mommy flailed her arms all around in the back seat shielding the sun from you. We didn’t want you to be uncomfortable or upset in any way. Looking back, that single car ride set the whole tone for the next couple of months. Okay, okay…who are we kidding? It set the tone for your whole life.

We held you so much just staring at you that when we would put you down you would cry until we picked you up again. To hear you cry, to this day, brings an uncontrollable gust of emotion to me. I just have to hold you and console you until you are happy again. I know that, Daddy knows that and I know that you know that.

The most magical time those first couple of months was your 3 am feedings. We were so sleep deprived but we looked forward to them every night. It was something about the quietness and calmness of the hour. We have never felt so much attachment and love. Sometimes we would spend extra time rocking and holding and staring at our beautiful. baby. girl.

Then, you started to grow and your personality started to peek out more and more each day. These are some of the things we know for sure about you so far:

You love to sleep in your bed. If we put you in ours, it is party time.

You hate green beans with a passion. You make the most awful face when we try to get you to eat them.

You know what you want when you want it and if we don’t immediately give it to you, you know how to get us to.

Daddy makes you smile and laugh and is fun to play with. Mommy calms you down and you cuddle and kiss me a lot.

You hate shoes. You will spend the whole day kicking in the air or ripping them off.

You have a lot to say and do and would prefer an audience whenever possible.

You love to take a bath. Especially when Daddy spits toys out at you and when Momma sings Rubber Duckie with Daddy on backup vocals.

You love outside so much that sometime s you’ll sit in front of the window and stare out of it or bang on the door until we bring you out.

You have the sweetest heart. You hold the things you love in your arms close to your neck and rock back and forth saying, “Aww.”

You got sick for the first time when you were seven months old because that’s when you started to get teeth. You now have two on the bottom , four on top, and two more on the way .

You dance and smile a lot! You love tv and when your favorite programs come on you dance uncontrollably.

You are walking…everywhere. Even up the stairs which terrifies me.

I’m sure they’ll be plenty more things we learn about each other before next year. We look forward to every moment. You have brought so much love and joy to our lives it is hard to imagine life before you. In many ways we feel we’ve waited so long for you that our lives together as a family started when you came into the world. We have learned so much about what is really important in life. We love you so much. Happy 1st Birthday sweet girl!!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy