Dear Reese

Today, my beautiful little girl, you officially celebrate your first birthday.

And even though you woke up crying at 3:30am, waking your parents out of their blissful sleep, wouldn't go back in your crib, screamed for your mommy when she left you with daddy to relieve my bladder, left your mommy with sore shoulders and neck, woke up at 5am talking like there was no tomorrow, were crabby as can be for 3 hours this morning before your nap and then spit up on the carpet........

I love you with all my heart.

I love your toothy-wrinkly-nose grin.

I adore the way that you bob your head to music and attempt to sing along with your cute baby babble.

I love how you follow your big brother around adoringly.

I love your "happy dance" in which you shuffle your feet and legs on the carpet at a fast pace on a moment's notice.

I love how you get so excited when you get to spend time with both sets of your grandparents.

I love how you splash in the bathtub.

I love your curiosity.

I love playing "I'm gonna getcha" with you.....how you run away fast to avoid being tickled.

I love that you are beginning to understand simple requests from mommy and daddy.

I love that you have switched to regular milk with the same ease that your brother did.

I love that you take two naps a day and are on a regular schedule (unlike your older brother....ahem).

I love that you adjust fairly quickly to babysitters (Hannah Banana!) and the nursery at church.

I love your independent and stubborn personality (reminds me of someone......hmmmm.).

I love your giggles and hearty-devilish laugh.

I love that you were my second miracle child that God blessed me with.

My promise to you is that I will never take for granted the awesome privilege it is to be your parent.  I will love you unconditionally but realistically.  I will try to remember to be your parent as you get older and not just your friend.  I will give advice but try to let you make your own decisions.  I will pray for you and your brother that you will be happy with your choices in life and that your mommy will learn to accept those decisions even if they weren't what I expected.

I love you my gorgeous blue eyed, blonde haired, full-of-personality girl.  I am one proud mama.