It's Fun to be One!

Hello from ONEderland!

Hailey turned one year old a week ago, and in true Hailey style, it was memorable!

The evening before her first birthday (Thursday night), we had a really powerful 10 minute storm blow through Michigan which took out power for a lot of people - our house included.

After we got home from dinner...Hailey decided that it was a good time to do something special. Apparently, she really wanted to get in another 'first' before she turned one the next day, because with two flashlights trained on her...Hailey took her first steps!!!

Four big steps... all on her own with no support, no power and no CAMERA.
That's my girl!

While we had planned on taking her someplace special on her birthday (we intended on going to Saugatuck), Nathan and I spent the day moving our frozen food over to Mom and Dad's (ice cream soup...yuck!). We also decided that it was hard to have a party with no power, so we moved the next day's celebration over to Mom and Dad's house as well. That particular decision was pretty easy for me to make since I did not have the opportunity to get the doors back on my kitchen cabinets!

So, because Hailey missed out on a day trip to an artsy town on the big lake, we took her to the next best thing...Build-A-Bear Workshop! Nathan and I had a pretty good time 'helping' her pick out a bear and stuff it. Of course, we were more into it than she was (we almost came home with an entire bear wardrobe) but I think in the end she really liked 'Bug-A-Bear'. The rest of her birthday was spent playing at Grandma and Grandpa's house.



The party the next day was crazy! There were so many people there and so much food! I think Hailey was in a bit of a daze to have so much attention. She received so many great gifts and she really wanted to play with them all! She loved her books, 'CD player', cell phone and popper - all the gifts were perfect. The highlight of the whole day had to be when we gave Hailey her first birthday cake (banana cake with chocolate and pink frosting) - she went to town smashing it and eating cake by the handful. She was so messy, we had to give her a quick bath (sorry about the cake ring in the tub Mom!).The party was so much fun - and more than a little stressful with the last minute location change! I can't believe its really over!

And so my daughter is now one year old. Looking back, the whole event seems to me to paint a pretty good portrait of Hailey and her life:

* Forging ahead and 'taking steps' forward regardless of how dark it might be.
* Jumping in and enjoying life - even if it means you get cake in your nose and have to have a bath.
* Being surrounded by so much love that you can't even walk through a room without a hug and a kiss.

I hope you had a happy birthday Bug-A-Boo, you might be too young to remember it, but I certainly won't be forgetting it anytime soon!

(oh...the power came on at our house about 2 hours after the party finished)!

Letter to my Daughter

I have been a little remiss about posting lately, and I apologize to my throngs of rabid blog fans. The month of August has been a crazy one!

I have been 'hired' by the PNHS marching band - that has been taking up a LOT of my time and energy. Hailey's first birthday party is on the 25th of this month and (at this point in time) I have no doors on my kitchen cabinets. I am in the process of repainting them and the whole project has been one gigantic headache after another.

Even though my life has been a bit crazed to date...I cannot let the impending occasion of my daughter's first birthday pass without making a special note.

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A Letter To Hailey on Her First Birthday

My Dear Baby Hailey-

I wanted to take a moment to reflect and tell you how much you mean to me and how much the first year of your life has completely and totally changed mine forever.

You, your dad and I have all been on a road together, one that started even before you were born.

You may not realize this, but your daddy and I spent 5 years trying to have a baby and I was beginning to think that it was never going to happen. I said the words "Please, just one" over and over until they almost lost their meaning. The day I found out I was pregnant with you, was the day that the road your dad and I were walking on finally turned.

I think because of that, I had the most wonderful pregnancy. Daddy and I did everything we could to prepare ourselves for your arrival - but the road was one we had never been on before. I couldn't believe that I had such a strong connection with someone who I hadn't even met and near the end all I could think about was seeing your face. I was completely unprepared for how beautiful it would be.

When you were born - it was a total surprise, and a blur. I didn't have hours of labor and a long delivery to get me used to the idea that I was going to be a mom. One minute I was pregnant - the next, I was a mom. Your dad showed me a beautiful, wrinkly bundle of answered prayers, and then two of you were off. I remember lying there with a crazy mixture of absolute joy and crippling fear - you were perfect and I wanted the world to be perfect for you.

Now we are almost ready to celebrate your first birthday and since that first day, everything is different and yet nothing has changed. You have reached so many milestones and firsts and have grown so much - yet, just like the day you were born, this year has been a complete blur.

You and I spent a lot of time together early on - those days before I went back to work are priceless memories of love and frustration. Although you were so small and helpless, it is amazing the way you showed Daddy and me exactly how to care for you. The first part of that road wasn't always smooth, but each step got easier and easier to take. Since then, life has been a mad flurry of diapers and giggles.

Watching you through this year filled me with so much love and pride. I am beginning to see your incredible personality and sense of humor shine through. You and your daddy bring out the best in each other. When I watch the two of you play, I find a feeling that extends past the love I have for you as individuals.

Through all of the beautiful moments, there are also times of worry and fear. I am excited and anxious about the future. Just like when I was pregnant and couldn't wait to see your face, I want to know what your childhood will be like...I want to know that you will be happy.

I want to protect you without limiting you.
I want to encourage you without smothering you.

I want to teach you all the things I have learned and none of my own insecurities.

I don't ever want you to leave, but I want you to someday find your own road.

So I guess, until that time, you, Daddy and I will walk the road in front of us. Hopefully, we will know when to hold your hand and when to let go. I'm sure we will each trip occasionally, but as long as we are together, we won't stay down long. I can't wait to see where our road leads us Hailey Bug...even when you run ahead of us...we will always be on it with you.

I want the world to be perfect for you - you deserve no less.

Love
-Mommy