Happy Birthday Amara Claire!!

Amara,

 Baby girl.....you are turning TWO today! Technically you become a toddler today around 11:35 am, but I am still going to call you my baby. This birthday is an emotional one for mommy because not only are you older, you are acting older. You have grabbed your independence by the horns and run with it. Still, you asking mommy or daddy for "help" is something I won't tire from anytime soon. I promise you that! It is mixed emotion though. The only part that is "sad" is that I can't just hold you in my arms 24/7 (selfishly). All the rest of my emotion is pure joy and happiness.

 Sure, there is a day set aside to celebrate your birth, but you need to know that I celebrate you...God celebrates you every. single. day. He and I have a lot of conversations about you...good ones too! He has big plans for you, ya know? I owe more than I could ever possibly give to Him for bringing you into our lives on such a sweet morning. If the way that I look at you is the way that He looks at us all, mommy is taking note! We are loooooved!!!! You have shown us how to look at people through YOUR eyes, how to love better, how to take moments out of our day to have tickle fights in bed ( because they are necessary), how to dance like nobody is watching, how a smile can change someone's entire mindset, how singing loud and off key can be a favorite sound just to name a few.

I literally have tears pouring down my face at this very moment. I am so overwhelmed, and cannot put this last year into words for some reason. I tried reading this aloud to daddy, and I couldn't make it past the second sentence.

You make us smile and laugh! You offer up great cuddles without us asking. You are helpful, loving, kind, funny, sweet, sassy, laid back, curious, pure, sensitive, trusting, adventurous and so much more.

We love you from the pit of our hearts! Thank you for two of the best years of our lives!!

Happy Birthday.....my baby!

 Love,

 Mommy ( and Daddy)

Here is Amara's 2nd year video ....

Happy Birthday!!!

Dearest Amara,

   It is 1 am right now and daddy and I are both up working hard on the final details that mommy is obsessing over for your 1st Birthday Bash!! It has been one of the things I have looked forward to since the day you were born! Little did I know, it would come so very soon!

  I just want to take this time to tell you how much you changed my life. I actually don't even think that I can put it into words. You will probably never know, or even understand it. I am watching daddy edit a video that encapsulates so many amazing moments from your first year of life, and I can't even get through the intro without tears of joy streaming down my face! You went to bed pretty late tonight ( party girl), so I rocked you and gave you your bottle, and you fell right to sleep in my arms....snoring and all. You don't do that much anymore because you are getting to be a big girl now. It was the best part of my day! Everything about the sounds you make, the way you smell after a warm bath, you looking into my eyes when I feed you or just a little smirk from you can literally take any not so good day and make it a perfect day!

 I could go on and on about little things like that, but what I really want to say is just that I am so very proud to be your mom. I just adore you, and I love watching you grow and learn new things each and every day. You really are a "happy baby". I love when people stop me everywhere I go to tell me ( and you) how beautiful you are and how crazy your hair is! haha! All I can think to myself is " man, if they only got to spend one day with her....they would see how much of that beauty comes from deep within!" You remind me so much of daddy when it comes to the joy that you exude and your peaceful nature. Just when I think I can't love you more........

You are teaching me so much about life. They day that I had you, so many things that mommy cared about quit mattering to me. It was the best thing that happened to both daddy and me! We are forever grateful to God that we get to be your parents baby girl! Every night that I lay you down to sleep, I pray over you! I believe in prayer......God will do amazing things through you if you let Him. You won't remember your first birthday, but I will forever! You got to eat a little cake, you had an extra special dinner with daddy and I at Burger Up and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day! It felt like Fall!!

Today was your day, but even on our most trying days, mommy feels like it is HER birthday! You are the best gift that I could have ever hoped for! I can't wait to celebrate you this weekend. You are loved by SO many! Happy Birthday "boots". I love you sooooooo much!

Love You MORE,
Mommy

Now, onto the more regular format for my monthly posts......

It is crazy that is has been a year already, but at the same time....I have been with this baby EVERY SINGLE DAY this year, so it definitely doesn't seem like it has gone by THAT fast ;)

Some of the things Amara is doing/loving right now are pulling up/standing up on the floor, in shopping carts, in stroller and even in her highchair. She is hard to contain these days! Gotta love that energy though! She is trying to walk ( by holding on to things and scooching her way around on those tiny feet)
Wearing shoes :)
Playing tug of war with Sadie
Holding her own spoon ( not even close to feeding herself....more like throwing her food off of it)
Pulling things out of containers
Opening and closing cabinets
"Dancing"
Waving at everyone still ( even when no one is waving or even looking at her )

Other favs....

teeth!!

I know I look scary here, but I was looking in a mirror behind her trying to get her to smile.....