Oh how she's grown....

Pretty Girl


This is how she loves to sleep these days



How tiny she looked in her crib at just 1 month old


Almost outgrown her infant carrier


The day we brought her home from the hospital, so little
in her big carseat



Last weekend we celebrated Isabelle's 1st birthday (post and pics from her party later!). Her 1st birthday was very bitter sweet for me. The day before and the day of her birthday I kept reminiscing about those last moments leading up to her birth. I would look at the clock and say "at this time, one year ago, I was...." and fill in the blank with what was happening right at that moment. I remember everything so clearly still, and I hope that I always will. It's amazing how much can happen in one year. How you can can become a parent, and suddenly be somebody's mommy. This year has been a roller coaster of emotions. I've experienced some of the highest highs imaginable when my baby entered into this world, and literally feeling my heart fill to the brim with joy when I look into her face everyday. When we met eyes and she smiled at me for the first time, I was on cloud nine. There's been some lows as well, especially those early months when the nights were never ending and I never thought I'd get a full night of sleep again. And when the tears would flow, and nothing I did would stop them, or when I couldn't console a teething baby. However, the rewards and joy of having her makes even the hardest times pale in comparison. It also amazes me how much change a baby experiences in the first year. They go from sleeping all the time and not being able to get around...to talking, some walking, and eating solid foods! In any case, I feel so overwhelmingly blessed and thankful to the Lord for giving us our precious Isabelle. She has filled our lives and hearts with tremendous joy.