On Your First Birthday

Dear Maizey,
Today you are one. You say all kinds of words, you copy things I do, you laugh, you play with your friends, you sleep all night, you try to put your clothes on yourself, you play shy, you be your funny, cute, sometimes trying self every day and we love you very very very much.
I had to do some shopping for your party and as I stood in front of the party supplies I got a little choked up. I could hear other kids in the store saying dada and crying for mama and all I wanted was for you to be there with me. I missed you. I could hardly believe I was shopping for a one year old birthday party. I can hardly believe you are one year old. I can remember your birth day just like it was yesterday. I snuggled you and loved on you and proudly showed you to all our friends and family. Today I snuggled you, I loved on you and I proudly put together a birthday party for all your friends and family to come to. Those things are never going to change... I am always going to snuggle you (not in a weird way) and love you and be proud of you.
When I started this motherhood journey I really had no idea what it would be like. I see now that I am cut out for this. I am made to be your mommy. I am made to teach you things (like go down the stairs... you tried to teach yourself and it didn't end well) and show you the way and love you and to sometimes let you learn things yourself. You are showing me your independence more and more every day and I am having a hard time at letting you be a big girl already... I cant imagine how I am going to be able to handle it when you are older. I am just going to try to teach you all you need to know to be able to go out on your own and find your way. If I can do that, then I have succeeded.
So... what you are doing now....
You walk along anything you can get your hands on, but you are still not trying to walk at all. Oh well, you will get there.
You play patty cake and laugh when we play `round and round the garden' on your hand.
You love the bath and all meal times.
You are starting to need more challenges in your life - like toys that actually do something. The pots and pans are no longer cutting it.
Your vocabulary is getting extensive so I will try to remember all of your words
mama
dada
up
yep
hello
hi
thank you
whats this
shoes
kisses
friends
mmmmm
uh-oh
(shake your head no)
owwww

Your are finally up to 18lbs!! woooo! Still too little to turn your car seat around... but we will continue to shovel the food into you and hope you get to 20lbs before you turn 5. You are getting lots of hair, we are still waiting for a tiny little pony tail.
We gave you a wagon for you birthday present and you love it so much. You sat in it all morning and let daddy pull you all over the house. It was so cute.
I don't have any more words for you. For your perfect little self and how much joy and happiness you bring to us. We love every single day we have with you. Our life could not be more perfect. Just know that on your first birthday there was so much love surrounding you from your family and all your friends. You are so lucky to have so many wonderful people in your life that love you.
Maizey Rae you are one amazing little girl.
We love you baby girl
Love,
Mommy and Daddy