Dear Bella

Dear Bella,

I was inspired today by Heather (thespohrsaremulitplying.com) to write you a letter. I have thought about and intended to do it countless other times but after reading Heather's letter, I made myself sit down and do it.

Finding out I was pregnant with you was the most exhilarating and terrifying day of my life (before birthing you out and then realizing that it was mine and your father's sole responsibility to keep you alive and teach you to be a wonderful human being, but I digress). We had been TTC for four months to no avail when I finally got TWO fabulous pink lines after I peed on that little stick. You weren't a surprise but it was still scary. It was real, it was happening: I was going to have a baby!

You were a pretty good lil fetus, I must say. Only once did I throw up even though I felt like I was for most if the day but it wasn't too horrible. I enjoyed being pregnant. Eating whatever I wanted, no sucking in my stomach and feeling/then seeing you move around in there was amazing. That day in February when we found out you were a girl...the happiness is indescribable. We went shopping right after the appointment and bought your bedding, some room decor and of course, clothes and a fab pair of leopard print mary janes. We named you that day too, after months of arguing, your daddy really did like Isabella Marie but enjoyed fighting with me too much to say so. :/

The pregnancy progressed and it got time for you to arrive. You decided to fashionably late by 2 days and after being induced, you were born and I was exhausted yet over the moon to finally see your little face. You were/are the most beautiful baby I have ever seen (I'm not biased or anything lol) and immediately I fell more in love with you then I ever thought possible.

This past year has been crazy for your daddy and I but having you has made all those things seem so insignificant. How can I look at you and not smile? Unless you are doing that dinosaur-like scream as you roll around on the floor...ok, even that makes me laugh at first. You have taught me so much. I'm finding my inner child again as I get down to play and giggle with you. I see you in awe of things that I have come to not even notice anymore and it brings me back, makes me slow down and truly appreciate the little things in life.

Now it's not always easy being a mother and I know that patience is a virtue that you are still working on with me. But for you, I want to be the best mother I can. To give you the love I had as a child and more. To give you anything your heart desires and to show you that you can do anything you set your mind too, you are that awesome.

I'm in awe of this person growing right in front of my eyes. Every day you learn new things and it's with delight and pride that I watch you practice your new skills. I could watch you for hours. You are becoming more and more independent and I can't believe how big you are! You aren't an infant anymore, you are a toddler. My eyes well up when I think of how fast this year went but I know that I enjoyed it all and would do it again in a heartbeat.

I'm going to end this now even though I could go on all day about how great you are and how much I love you.

Bella Boo, you made me a mom. Thank you. I love you with my whole heart and then some baby girl.

xoxoxoxo,
Mommy

Bella turns 1....this post in SUPER late

As you can see, not only am I a slacker, I am lazy. Just pics, no real post. :)

Bella had a great time at her birthday extravaganza. She jumped, swam, played with her buddies, ate tacos and had cake for the very first time. Her ladybug cake made her look like a zombie who just got done feasting on some brains but whatever. She got many wonderful gifts and celebrated her day with some fabulous people. I still can't believe she's one. ::sighs::