One year with Alice!

Posted on 09. May, 2011 by Princess Lasertron in alice

Dear Alice:

I’m trying to come up with the perfect words on your first birthday but what else can I say besides everything I have been echoing for the last 12 months about how communicative, adaptable, funny, and independent you are and how awesome that is. To say that you are an easy baby is an understatement. I’m proud to say that I escaped the full first year without being barfed on, peed on, or pooped on. You never had an issue with spit-up or drooling and we were able to reign in the food-flinging and mush-smearing to a manageable fistful of bananas or cheerio spill here and there. Hopefully you will continue to keep your bodily fluids to yourself in the next year.

A year ago your father and I were thinking about moving into the hospital because it’d be easier than living out of our packed bags for a fourth day in labor. But after 60 hours, four plates of french toast sent up from the cafeteria, some gentle prodding from my amazingly supportive doctor to consider a c-section (and I almost lunged out of a contraction and strangled him), three days of beeping monitors and getting in and out of the tub, going up and down the stairs, writhing on the bed, and utter exhaustion, you at last joined us. Dr. Renelt placed you on my chest and I wrapped my arms around you and cried. You were so beautiful. The warbling sound of your first little cry will be in my memory forever. All I thought of was your happiness, your sweet face, and our unbreakable bond that was formed today one year ago. The stars aligned over us both at our births and you were made for me. It’s a gift and it will continue to unfold throughout your entire lifetime.

Some of your favorite new things to do this month include…
…Copying our actions (bouncing three times, humming three notes, clapping three times…)
…Collecting objects in containers (you have a tin bucket and fabric bin that you like to carry around and fill with objects)
…Gathering huge armfuls of laundry or stuffed animals and walking around
…Pushing our chairs and side tables around the room
…Hiding
…Splashing in the toilet (when can you get away with it)
…Hugging and kissing with your wet mouth

You have started to love your stuffed animals–particularly a grey bunny named Flocki and an Ugly Doll named Moxy. You hold them, look into their faces, touch their noses (you are really into noses right now). You picked out each of those animals yourself at the store–picking them out of their displays and walking around with them. I caved and bought them, and I don’t regret it–I love seeing you beginning to make your first thoughtful choices. I want to know everything about what you like and what you are into. If it’s a bunny, that’s cool. I get it.

We are having a big birthday party with our family and friends next Sunday because it’s been a pretty busy week. Today we did have a celebration though. Your great-grandma came over and babysat you in the afternoon while I went shopping and out to lunch all by myself. Then I went to work for an hour or two. Then I came home and we all went out to dinner. You got a rocking chair and some books from Grandma and Grandpa, and an easel and art supplies from Great Grandma Maga. The best was this great little Montessori carpet sweeper. And I thought the swiffer was great–now I have clean hardwood and carpet. You busy bee.

Oh my sweet Alice. I am so proud of you. Being your mother is an honor.

Tags: letters