My sweet girl is one!

Cates is one. Can you believe that? I really cant. More than a year ago now we were admitted into the hospital and started our more than a week stay there.. leaving with our precious baby girl.

Her first birthday party was filled with our closest family and dearest friends. It was a wonderful time and I thank God for giving us such a wonderful support system.

In honor of my baby’s first birthday I want to share ten of my most special moments with her! No particular order.. because who can pick a number one?!

1. When I first saw her. Getting to the seeing her part was slightly traumatic (what birth story isn’t?!), but when I saw her it all went away. She was healthy and perfect and a gift from God that I could actually hold in my hands. Our first days together were precious and engraved on my heart forever.

2. Our Santa picture. If you didn’t see it, I wish you could. Andrew was screaming and crying at the top of his lungs.. and Cates was sleeping peacefully. Even now, it is similar to how they work. He is wound up and she is laid back. He is everywhere and she is right beside me. I love how different they are and how much it works. And I really love their first Santa picture 

3. When I first heard mama. Is that when your life is complete?! It was beautiful and long waited for. Andrew held out on us awhile! So when she said it early on I really enjoyed it!

4. The beach. She is a truly easy baby. When we went on our family vacation to the beach, she had a bad ear infection.. (thank goodness for the tubes weve gotten since!) but she was still a joy to be around. Out section trip was even better. She crawled all over the sand.. ate some.. and just say in it and played for so long. Im glad she loves the beach!

5. Easter. I loved her dress, and the bunny was good to her! She had beautiful pictures made. And it was a special time.

6. Mother’s Day. Wow. It was my first Mother’s Day with my own children! Tim made it so so special and I will always remember it. I look forward to many more with this sweet girl!

7. Tim’s birthday. We went to the zoo and she really loved seeing all the animals. She was very animated and she wore the cutest monkey outfit ;) Tim loved having us all there and I think it is a day he will always really value.

8. Old Mexico! This summer Cates and I looked for any reason to go to OM for lunch! We had friend lunches, daddy lunches, Bop lunches.. you name it. She loves some Mexican and now that school has started anytime we walk in she is pumped.

9. Her first bath in the real tub. Talk about pure joy. Just squealing and laughing and splashing. I love those times where she just is really, really happy.

10. Her first birthday party! It went exactly how I wanted it to. The food was good, the décor was cute, and the people there loved her and our family! Hard to beat 

Those are just ten of the hundreds of memories that I value so much. Please pray that her next 100 years are as wonderful her first!