Letter to Sydney

To my beautiful Sydney Linn:



You are One today. It's such a bittersweet day for me as a Mom.



You were brought into this world a month early, with worried sick parents. Your birth story is definitely one for the books. But, just as you have proven to be, you were so perfect, in every way. I remember laying in the operating room, holding my breath, waiting for the first wail to come from your lungs. I've never heard such a glorious sound, never in my life. Tears flowed from my eyes when the nurses said you were as healthy as you could be. I know you weren't the first preemie baby ever born, nor will you be the last, but you were my preemie baby, and I was so scared.



In one year, you have completely changed my life. You have filled a hole that I didn't realize I had. You have brought smiles to my face, love to my heart, and joy to my life. You have such a sweet soul, happy giggles, and warming smiles. I can't imagine my life without you now.



It took you 11 months to finally start sleeping through the night. 11 months to crawl, and 11 months for you to let mommy put you down. And as much as I wanted you to sleep, as much as I wanted you to crawl, and as much as I wanted my time without you attached to my hip, I did love it. I loved having you need me, I loved the closeness we have because of it. I love the way you look at me, the way you won't take your eyes off of me once you spot me.



And now, I love that you crawl around the house looking for me if you hear me. You crawl right up to me feet and raise your arms and open and close your hands to tell me to pick you up. I love the way you wrap your arms around me, and squeeze so tight.



And also, you not only sleep through the night, but just yesterday, you slept until 2:10pm. You have turned out to be a wonderful sleeper. You take one great nap per day, sometimes two, although shorter. You go to bed between 7:30 and 9pm each night, and usually wake no earlier than 9am. You are definitely making up for 11 months of no sleeping. I won't lie, I'm okay with that!



You despise baby foods now, and haven't eaten any in about 3 weeks. You love everything I put in front of you. I don't think I've found a food yet that you don't promptly shovel right into your mouth. You LOVE LOVE LOVE pears, and would eat a whole can at one sitting if I'd let you. You hate drinking from sippy cups, and will only drink out of cups that have a straw. If I let you drink my water from a straw, you hardly ever swallow it because it's so cold. You just let it run right out of your mouth. You enjoy stealing food of your brothers plate when we're out eating, and that makes him mad.



You love our dog Petey. You don't mind his kisses, and especially love pulling his ears. You squeal with delight when he comes around to play by you. He's so gentle with you, even when you poke his eyes, pull his ears & tail. You think it's just the funniest thing.



You love love love your big brother too. Your whole face lights up when he comes into the room, and you squirm to get near him. He plays peek-a-boo with you, and you laugh so hard. I hope you two will be close, and love and respect each other throughout your lives.



You have also finally taken to daddy. For awhile you were such a mommy's girl that you wouldn't have anything to do with anyone but me. But now, now, you can't get enough. You laugh endlessly with him, and a lot of times give him kisses before you do me. When I walk down the stairs with you after nap time, and you see a glimpse of him, your whole face turns into one huge smile. You definitely have him wrapped around your finger, remember that, and take advantage! =)



At one year, you are in size 5 diapers, 12-18 month clothing, and have endless leg rolls. I am so okay with that, they are absolutely adorable. You are crawling, and pulling yourself up on anything that's larger than you are. You can say Mama, Dada, Bubba, Nana, and Dog. Other words that have escaped your mouth a couple times are Papa, and Book. You are not the chatterbox that your brother was at your age, as far as actual vocabulary goes, but you are very very vocal in your own little language. You babble a lot if the mood strikes you, and love hearing your own squeals. You also love smacking your lips, and think it's the cats meow when you do this while eating. You do a little scrunch face all the time while breathing heavy through your nose that always has everyone in stitches. You have 3 upper teeth, with 2 more coming in; and have 2 lower teeth with 2 more coming in there as well. You have had endless ear infections your first year of life, and the talk of tubes are in your future. You also love the show Barney and just realized by accident that you love Yo Gabba Gabba as well. (groan from mommy)



Anyways baby girl, I just wanted you to know all the things you have been doing your first year of life- I hope you will love looking back at these letters and reading about yourself as a child. Remember, you are beautiful. You are strong. I love you more than you know, and I will always, always be by your side. I will be your friend, but remember, that I'm your mom first and foremost. Sometimes you'll need tough love, even if you don't think so. But don't let that shadow my love for you.

You are an amazing little girl, and my life without you would not be the same. I love you beautiful girl, so so much.

I love you,

Mommy