A Letter to My Love on Her First Birthday

Y’all, forgive me in advance if I become a blubbering mess throughout this post. I am sitting here with a box of Kleenex already bawling my eyes out as I write. This year has gone by so quickly and words escape me as I sit back and think about just how much life has changed these last 365 days since we welcomed Caroline Cate into this world.

My Darling Caroline,
I remember it like it was yesterday…the day you came into our lives and changed it forever. It was a beautiful Saturday, March 17th, 2012, and all our closest friends and family had gathered at the hospital (wearing green of course!), anxiously awaiting your debut.
Looking back, it all happened so quickly and to me it seems like it was over in an instant, though I remember there was lots of prayer, lots of pushing, lots of tiredness, lots of joy, and endless amounts of tears. I can close my eyes and remember hearing your Daddy and Mimi telling me they could see you and looking at them seeing them so emotional…you were almost here. Though I was exhausted, I knew that was the day I was finally going to meet you and hold you in my arms.
Hearing your cries the moment you were born brought me to tears…that was the moment I really became a mom. That was the day you took my heart and wrapped it around your tiny little finger. That was the single best day of my life. I don’t think you were sat down for one second those two days we stayed at the hospital…it was a constant flow of love and support that flooded through those doors to wish us well and bless this new life God had created.
In the weeks that followed, life was crazy…tough…scary…emotional…but mostly, it was happy. It was learning how to feed and bath you, it was learning what each of your cries meant, it was learning how to overcome the newborn obstacles you threw at us, it was learning to adjust our lives because you were the top priority, and it was your daddy and I learning how to become parents.
Undoubtedly, this year has been the hardest, but BEST and most rewarding year of my life. But I wouldn’t have it ANY other way. Daddy and I made the decision for me to stay at home with you rather than going back to my job, and though sometimes I think being at home is harder, I wouldn’t change that decision for one single second. It brings me so much happiness that I get to be the one to wake you up each morning and feed you, put you down for your naps, take afternoon strolls to the park to go swinging, and spend those lazy days where we lounge in our jammies all day and we don’t have a care in the world. I treasure each of these moments with you Caroline because it’s given me so much joy and pride. We are truly blessed.
You have made me realize what really matters in life, and that’s faith and family. You have taught me so much about myself that I never thought I would know. You have the love and support of so many incredible people in your life and I am thankful for the guidance, help, and assistance from those closest to us…they have shaped me as a person and now they are doing the same for you. It’s amazing to watch and witness first-hand.
We have experienced so much together during this first year…your first beach trip, your first plane ride, your first Christmas, your first bouts with sickness and colds, your first teeth, your first picnic, your first football tailgate, your first foods-the list goes on and on.