Happy 1st Birthday Abby Kate!!

Dear Abber-Dabbers,

One year ago today, I had not gotten much sleep the night before! Despite our attempts to meet you on September 1, you decided to do your own thing and entered the world at 5:12 am on September 2. That extra 5 hours and 12 minutes will delay Kindergarten for you one whole year!!! (I'm really happy that you'll get to be home an extra year!!) As with your big sister, I had a great delivery with you (after a bit of a rocky start) and a great doctor who took amazing care of both of us!

Our first days home were a little rough. You wanted to nurse constantly, and wouldn't sleep at all unless someone was holding you. We found out after almost a week that my milk supply hadn't come in, and so you were not getting what you needed! You were so sweet and good-natured about the whole thing. You didn't cry a lot, as long as you were being held. I'd always been told that a baby will not let him/herself starve. That statement wasn't true for you, my dear, and it took me several long months, and a couple of stressful doctor's visits to figure out that I should just feed you often because you don't cry when you're hungry!

You were sooooo snuggly for the first few months. You and I spent many sweet hours rocking in the rocking chair and snuggling in bed. A few days after you came home, I was so tired, so I got in bed and snuggled you right next to my face. You looked so incredibly peaceful and content to be so close to me. That is one of my favorite memories! You ended up sleeping just like that for about 6 months, once I learned that was the only way I was going to get any sleep. You liked to grab and touch my right hand while I was holding you with my left, and it comforted you so easily during those early days

Your big sister loved (loves) you sooooo much, and was so fascinated by everything you did. I learned quickly that I had to watch her constantly when you were in a place where she could get to you. She thought it was perfectly fine to sit on top of you or poke you in they eye. She also liked to bring you toys and bounce you, sometimes a little too roughly, in your bouncer. She loved it when you sneezed and would laugh and say "more please sneeze."

You learned how to smile very quickly - around 5 weeks. You haven't stopped smiling since! Getting great pictures of you has been so easy. You have a huge smile, just like your daddy, and some of the people who help in the church nurseries called you "the happiest baby in the world."

You started rolling over around 3 1/2 months. It was a happy, happy day when you could roll over to your tummy. I tried hard to follow the SIDS guidelines and make you sleep on your back, but you would have none of that. As soon as you go into the crib, you immediately turn to your stomach.

You started crawling and sitting up between 6 1/2 and 7 months. I was afraid you would start walking shortly after that, as quickly as you caught onto moving around. You didn't, though, and now I think I'm ready for you to. It's getting hard to take Christa outside, because you want to get down on the ground! You got a little less snuggly after you could move around and are a lot more active! You don't sit still for a second now, which makes diaper/clothes changes a back-breaking and exhausting job! You smile so much, though, that it makes it hard to get frustrated with you for being so squirmy.

You try hard to keep up with your big sister, and would much rather play with her toys than your baby toys. You're not walking yet, but you can stand for a few seconds by yourself. You climb the stairs in no time at all if I forget to close the gate, and if I catch you in the act, you laugh and climb faster. You eat "big-people food," and like to feed yourself, which is such a mess. You can say a few words: "Daddy," "Ma-ma," "Boo," "Go," and "Ba-Ba" (whatever that means)! Daddy recently taught you how to bark like a dog, and you are so cute mimicking him. Christa is still crazy about you, and often claps and says, "Good job, Abby Kate," when you do something well. Last week, Daddy and I thought you were happily playing together on the kitchen floor. When we took a closer look, we realized that you and Christa were having a ball spreading a can of powdered formula around the floor, and you were eating it by the fist-full with a huge smile on your face. It was really hilarious, but I chose not to grab the camera, because I was afraid it would contradict Daddy's effort at discipline:)

You and I just started taking Kindermusik classes together. I love this time to give you my undivided attention for a little while - it's not something that happens often. At our first class, I wondered if I should switch you to gymnastics because all you wanted to do was crawl around and do your own thing. You did really well at your second class, though, and smiled through the songs and activities.

You have added so much joy to our family! We definitely wouldn't be complete without you. It hasn't been the easiest year ever, and I don't think I fully understood true exhaustion until I began parenting two children. But I know that these sweet days will not last forever, and I am treasuring every moment that I get to attempt to keep up with you, even if I'm a tired mess at the end of the day! I love that you and your sister are both girls, and the 26 month age difference has been wonderful. I am having a great time dressing you in matching dresses and cute, girly outfits and watching you play together. Your sweet smile has lifted my spirits on many occasions, and still can't believe how laid back you are. You definitely didn't get that trait from me, but I'm trying to learn from it.

I love you, sweet angel.

Mommy