You're one!

Dear Adeleigh,

I can't believe you're one! It feels like it was just yesterday that your Daddy and I held your wobbly, little wrinkly 6 pound 13 ounce body for the first time. Now you're almost walking, starting to talk, eating cookies, talking on your cell phone and taunting Rico with your food. It's amazing what one year holds. All the growth, laughter, smiles, tears, smells, baths, bottles, late nights, early mornings, mistakes, lessons-learned and -learning, the memories. There are just so many of the memories. There were so many leading up to your first breath of life, and so many yet to come. This last year has been life-altering in a way that no one ever could have prepared me for. Life-altering in a way that can only be good, and beautiful.

For your first birthday, we went to the park by our home. We bought you some mylar, helium-filled balloons that you absolutely loved - especially the Elmo one. We were afraid you were going to pop it in your face by smothering him with your kisses and hugs. I'm sorry that I didn't tie your balloons to the picnic table tight enough...I tried to run after them, but by the time I made it ten feet, they were putting Balloon Boy to shame (had he actually been in the balloon). Daddy seemed to think that bringing helium balloons to the park on a windy day had an obvious outcome, but I didn't even consider the possibility.
We ended up switching tables because of how mad I was at that one. Actually, we switched because of the swarm of bees that were wanting to pollenate your perfect, always-gonna-be-my baby-sweet skin. One very persistent bee followed us to our new site and Uncle Pat punched him in the face and drop-kicked him into the lake for you. Did you know if you lift up Uncle Pat's goatee hair, you'll find a fist instead of a chin? You can thank Uncle Chuck Norris for protecting you when you know how to talk.
I'm sorry that the Happy Birthday sign we hung for you broke into 3 pieces when a gust of wind came through. At least we were able to salvage "Happy" and "Day" for a picture with you. Sort of...

After cake and presents, we made our way down to the water fountain. The sign overhead read "All babies and toddlers must wear rubber pants at all times." But we didn't have any rubber pants for you. I don't even know what those are, do you? So we just let you go in your Birthday dress.

My favorite part of your birthday evening was soon after the time of day you were born. I sat in the living room holding you close. Your face smooshed up against my chest, legs straddled across my belly. I remembered that at this time last year, you took up a third of this space. This will always be my favorite way to hold you. We started out sleeping this way. So you could hear a familiar heartbeat and easily transition from womb to life, and so I could always feel your chest rising and know that you were safe. It was a very sweet moment to share with you. One that no gust of wind could've taken away.

Happy Birthday Little One.