Happy Birthday Victoria

Dear Victoria,

You turned one year old last Saturday.  At 1:03pm, to be exact.  I can't believe it's been a whole year; you've grown and changed so much.  We didn't expect you for two more weeks, so when the doctor told me we had to get you out of my tummy, I had to call Daddy away from work and he rushed over to Waco to see your little face as you came into the world.

You were a little jaundiced, so Daddy laid you on his chest under the sunny window.

You were so beautiful.  The midwife told me your little feet came out first because you were sitting in my tummy like a little Buddha.  Then you cried.  And I cried.  You took our breath away when we saw your little red curls and darling face.  A nice, plump little girl at 6 pounds and 9 ounces.

Soon, you had the run of the household, sleeping anywhere and everywhere.  Daddy still served as an effective pillow.  But he didn't mind.

We took so many pictures of you.  This one is when you were only a week old.

And this one is when you were about three weeks old, and still sleeping on Daddy.  I should have known you'd be a Daddy's girl.  But I know you loved me too, so I was ok with that.  I couldn't help loving you; you were such a happy little baby.

Well, sometimes you were sad.

And sometimes you just felt blah.

I loved it when you would let me dress you up.

And stage photo sessions.

Soon, you were already trying to stand up on your own.  At 6 months, you could hold on to our ottoman and stand up for a while.  We just knew you'd be walking soon.  Your Daddy started walking at 10 months old.  You loved to stand up holding on to things.  Forget about sitting in the floor.  And you didn't crawl until about 9 months old.

At seven months, we put together your big crib.  You loved it from day one.  I was glad for that.

And by then, you had really become a ham for the camera.  Your mama can't resist your smile and your little giggle.

We had a particularly cold winter for Texas, and you got to see snow for the first time!  I was hoping you'd be able to see snow in your first winter.  We put on your little snowsuit and bonnet and went out to play.  You didn't quite know what to think of it.

Your Aunt Goosey visited a few times, and once she brought a ball!  Your first little bouncy ball.  You really enjoyed that.  And now you can bounce it back to us!  You're such a smart girl.

You still sleep really well, although you've decided a new position works better for you.

And you're still a ham for the camera.

Dear Victoria, you are truly the light of our lives.  We love you so much and we thank God for giving us the chance to raise you.  We will undoubtedly make mistakes, and we hope, in years to come, that you will forgive us our failings.  Always remember to love the Lord, serve Him, and be the best little girl you can be.

Happy First Birthday!

Love,
Your Mama and Daddy