Is this really happening? Our baby girl turns 1 today. Wow, just wow.

This year. I don’t even have the words to describe this year. Daily, we pinch ourselves and ask is this real life. Is she really ours?! This time last year we were staring in amazement at this tiny little girl, completely smitten, and our hearts were a pile of goo. We love this little girl so much it hurts sometimes.

She is our best accomplishment. Our price & joy. She gives us our sense of purpose. None of which did we know we were going to experience the hours before she arrived. I’ll never forget the way I felt the first time I saw her face and held her in my arms. Or they way Kyle smiled as he held her for the very first time. There is nothing we wouldn’t do for her. It’s a hard feeling to explain until you experience it. I get so excited when I hear someone’s expecting a baby now because those first feelings are the most wonderful feelings ever.

Each day has only gotten better since that first one. We keep thinking she can’t get any cuter and she does. Every. Single. Day. She lights up a room with her big smile, and loves being the center of attention. She’s cruising on every piece of furniture, but still a little timid to let go and take those first steps. She’ll let go and try to walk towards me or Kyle, but right now it’s more of a leap than an actual walk with steps. My favorite is her little language. She has words for everything, some of them make sense and some don’t. But they’re specific, consistent and definitely mean something to her. She sings herself to sleep and shakes her head no when she doesn’t want something. She loves to go behind and under things, and she attempts to climb everything! Scary part is she’s actually getting good at it.

Baxter is her favorite, but she’s definitely still not his. She whips her head his direction anytime she hears his collar jingle and screams “dog”! Although it’s more of a duh sound without a g, but she’s trying. She loves to feed him, which is pretty much the only time he wants anything to do with her. He’s learning to tolerate her quick and not so gentle pats and tugs on his ear, but will still run if he sees her coming.

She’ll try anything once, but questions that second bite every single time. Bananas and blueberries are her favorite…and ice cream. She screams for ice cream!!! I kind of love that about her. We’re working on our love for veggies. It’ll come in time I guess. I’ve been sneaking them into foods when I can, because she can’t eat bananas for every meal. Feeding herself with a fork is her new proud skill. She can’t quite get the food on the fork, but if you do that part for her she always puts it straight in her mouth. Which is so much better than rubbing bananas in her hair!

This week has been full of nostalgic mom moments for me, and in a late on the other night, I was looking back through old pictures, and had totally forgotten how dark her hair used to be. Those blonde locks have grown in so quickly, and are to the point of being out of control. Her hair pretty much has to be pinned back or in a ponytail to keep it out of her face. I’m calling this her awkward hair stage that we all have to go through to achieve our desired style. Good thing for her is she gets to go through it when she’s still so cute that no one cares. Not that mommy will ever care, she’ll always be beautiful to me.

I’m excited about her turning 1. Part of me is sad she’s not a baby any more, but I love each new stage. I love watching her grow and develop, and I LOVE seeing her personality blossom. She’s got such confidence and will. Two qualities that might cause some issues later, but two qualities I’m so proud she naturally has and pray we help her keep. We’ll butt heads, I’m sure, but I’m so proud she knows what she wants (even at 1), and goes for it. She’s everything I ever wanted in a daughter, and I’m so blessed to call her mine.

Ada Pearl, Mommy and Daddy love you so so much. You are our everything. Happy Birthday sweet girl. August 7th will always be the best day of our life, because God gave us you that day.