Happy Birthday Mary-Kate!

My precious daughter is one year old today. I cannot believe how fast this year went by. It is such a cliched statement, but it is so true! It has flown by and left me feeling sad that my baby is growing up. Don't get me wrong, I love the stage that my little princess toddler is entering into. There is something amazing and wonderful about each stage your child goes through. I love to watch her waddle around the house and take in new things. To hear her little voice form words now leaves me in wonder. I remember feeling that way when Kaden began to speak too. This is a special post dedicated to my precious baby girl!

My pregnancy with Mary-Kate was not the easiest. I was sick a big part of the 9 months. Although it is worth it to have a precious baby, it is still hard to feel like that for so long. After 27 hours of labor, I was blessed to naturally give birth (no drugs) to Mary-Kate at 6:23am. We were all shocked to see that MK weighed 8 lbs, 14 oz and had a full head of black hair. (Kade was a baldy for the longest time.) She also had beautiful dark skin and rosy cheeks. I felt great after I had her and I even got to go watch her get her first bath! It is still surreal to remember back a year ago to when MK entered our lives. You can read her birth story here if you are interested.

Getting to hold a clean MK for the first time.

Hours old.

Kaden's first time to hold MK. He has loved her from the beginning too.

May 3rd, 2008

Going home from the hospital. (She barely fit into her newborn outfit.)

Mary-Kate is so many things to us. She has such a big personality and is full of spirit! From day one I would describe her as a little firecracker! She is filled with passion (like her mother) and wants what she wants, when she wants it... (guess that's like her mother too! hehe). She has the biggest smile and the cutest little dimple that can melt your heart. She has been fast paced in everything, reaching milestones sooner than her brother did, and blowing us away with how quickly she moves on. Having a girl has been so much fun and a big change from having a little boy! It has been crazy shopping for frilly dresses and putting on matching hair bows! I am very much a girl girl, and I look forward to (hopefully) sharing some of these things with Mary-Kate as she grows. She is already a big fan of shopping, shoes, and bows. Although I hope to have fun sharing these things with MK, I look forward to seeing the girl, and woman she will become. I pray that God will draw her close to him and that she will shine with Christ's love and will exude this love to others in everything she does. I pray that she will be kind, generous, and have an inward beauty that shines brighter than anything else.

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

(The infamous birdie picture)

4 Months

5 Months

6 Months

7 Months

8 Months

9 Months

10 Months

11 Months

1 Year Old!

I know that time will continue to fly, and my now toddler will become a big girl and then a young lady one day. I know that I will have to juggle embracing each new stage while missing old ones (well some of them!)... I praise God for blessing me with something I don't deserve. Our house will always be filled with joy when Mary-Kate is around. I wish I could explain how wonderful she is in a simple post, but words can never do her justice. I love you Mary-Kate and you will always be my special girl. Happy Birthday!!

Facing forward!

Woo hoo! :o)

First taste of a milk shake.

Mmmm...She approved!

Enjoying some birthday presents this morning!

She loves to kiss her baby dolls!

Kaden jumping in on the action! (He was so loving and patient this morning with Mary-Kate. We were afraid he would have a hard time with MK getting all the attention and gifts this morning, but he did great. We tried to explain to him that his turn will come on Wednesday on his birthday!)

My little cuties!