Yesterday, my beautiful once-tiny baby turned one year old. I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by. I feel more than a little sad when I think about how grown up she is already, how independent she is becoming day by day. Part of me enjoys that she is becoming easier to take care of. The other part of me wants her to stay little forever so that I can keep her close to me and so she can always fit into my arms.
The picture above was the first one that I ever took of Charlotte. She was born on the evening of Sunday, August 17th, 2008. The next afternoon, with the summer Olympics humming softly on the TV in the background and Adam napping on the pullout couch at my side, I sat in my hospital bed just holding her and looking at her and wondering at the way in which my life had been forever altered in the past 24 hours. I remember thinking that I had never seen anything more beautiful in all my life. A minute later, I stood up and laid her on the bed so that I could remember how she looked at that very moment.
As I look now at this picture, I am again struck by the great trust that was placed in me on the day that she was first placed into my arms. I hope that I am honoring that trust, that I am doing a good job. It is hard to tell sometimes. Several people have commented to me that she seems confident, fearless even. I would like to this that this is because she understands that she is loved unconditionally and so has no reason to be afraid or to feel bad about herself.
Charlotte didn't get the whole "make-a-wish" thing this year when we blew out her candles so I would like to make a wish on her behalf. I hope that her courage and confidence will stay with her throughout her life and will give her strength to do what is good and what is kind no matter what anyone else around her does. Then I will know I have succeeded as her mother.
Happy birthday, Tiny Princess. Mama loves you lots!
The picture above was the first one that I ever took of Charlotte. She was born on the evening of Sunday, August 17th, 2008. The next afternoon, with the summer Olympics humming softly on the TV in the background and Adam napping on the pullout couch at my side, I sat in my hospital bed just holding her and looking at her and wondering at the way in which my life had been forever altered in the past 24 hours. I remember thinking that I had never seen anything more beautiful in all my life. A minute later, I stood up and laid her on the bed so that I could remember how she looked at that very moment.
As I look now at this picture, I am again struck by the great trust that was placed in me on the day that she was first placed into my arms. I hope that I am honoring that trust, that I am doing a good job. It is hard to tell sometimes. Several people have commented to me that she seems confident, fearless even. I would like to this that this is because she understands that she is loved unconditionally and so has no reason to be afraid or to feel bad about herself.
Charlotte didn't get the whole "make-a-wish" thing this year when we blew out her candles so I would like to make a wish on her behalf. I hope that her courage and confidence will stay with her throughout her life and will give her strength to do what is good and what is kind no matter what anyone else around her does. Then I will know I have succeeded as her mother.
Happy birthday, Tiny Princess. Mama loves you lots!
3 comments:
Yumm...picture makes me hungry for a burrito...or pigs in a blanket, I don't know which.
That's just sick, Adam!
I remember looking at you and thinking the same thing about you... I have never seen anything more beautiful... and that was just today.
You have become exactly what I wished you would become. A loving wife and mother. A kind and generous woman with her own thoughts and determination. I love you.
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