My Dearest Ann Mason,

I am sitting here on the eve of your birthday remembering this exact time last year. Neenie, Pop , Mamaw and Papaw had just arrived and we ate dinner and just tried to enjoy our last night and give Palmer lots of loves and hugs before his world changed forever... We slept in your nursery that night and I don't think I slept one wink. I tossed and turned thinking what you would be like, what color your hair would be, if Palmer would love you, etc... That morning we woke up at 5 am and headed to the hospital. I remember being so much more nervous because I knew what awaited me this time! The needles, the IV, the spinal, etc... but at 8:15 am I heard your cry and the world around me faded and my life was forever changed.

From the day you were born you made us a family. You filled a part of me that I never knew was missing. My arms were filled with my precious daughter, that was flawless and prefect in every way imaginable. You were 6pds 6 oz and 20 inches long. You were a tiny bundle of perfection! You fit in our family like the missing piece to the puzzle. We realized that we weren't quite complete until you entered the world!
You were my easy baby, my smiling baby, my laid back baby. You would go with the flow and I often times remember wondering if this was too good to be true! Palmer took immediately to the idea of having a sister, a life long friend... he saw you, he loved you, he never turned back. You have become his biggest fan and he is your superhero!You've always been one to do things your way and the older you get the more feisty you become. I think you were trying to keep up with Palmer from day 1 and haven't stopped since. You stopped eating baby food at 6 months and started eating table food! You crawled at 7 months and walked at 10 1/2 months. There is nothing that you aren't capable of, especially with the help of your brother!
We haven't gone to your one year appointment yet but I am think that you are weighing in at about 21 pounds! I am excited to see how long you are and how much you weigh. You are wearing 12 month clothes and some 12-18 month outfits. You will eat any and everything in sight, meat, potatoes, pickles, dried fruit... you name it and you'll eat it!

You LOVE water! So much so that I am scared of the pool because I caught a glimpse of your "no fear" attitude at the pool in Gatlinburg. I will be a busy lady chasing you around in the water this summer, water wings for you! You have started to dance and of course we think it is the cutest thing ever! You pretty much imitate your brother who bless his heart LOVES to dance but got his daddy's rythmn :) Let's hope you got your momma's moves!

You STILL do not sleep thru the night. I will say 50% of that is your fault, 50% of that is our fault :) We were so worried about you waking up Palmer for so long that it was easier to just give you a bottle. Last night we let you "cry it out" and let me tell you... you are persistent and do not give up easily! Hopefully you will snooze thru the night SOON!

You are starting to be a "blankie" girl and I LOVE it! You have always sucked your thumb but now you pull your blankie down and hand it to me or daddy and we hold you while you hold the blankie and suck your thumb. For some reason I LOVE everything about it. I was a thumb sucker, you know :)

Your birth has blessed me in ways I never thought possible. It has been natural and loving and easy. Your personality is hilarious, you love to laugh and you love to love and you do both with such grace and enthusiasm! We all have learned so much from having you in our lives. I am having a hard time realizing that my baby is already 1 but I am so excited about what this next year brings. I am sure it is going to be full of more milestones and lots of laughs and love! Thank you for making me a better person and mom. We love you and we are SO proud of you! Happy Birthday Baby Girl! Today is your day! Palmer could hardly go to sleep tonight cause he knows tomorrow we are having a little party for you with cake, candles and balloons! He says he gets to help you blow them out :) I think you will probably let him! We love you!