Happy New Year!

Welcome to a New Year, Little One! What an amazing year it has been getting to know you, especially the last several months. It has been absolute joy watching you learn about your world and discover new things that you can do. You have become so mobile in the last several weeks! We have been amazed by the fact that you can walk very well when you are focused on the task and have cheered as you easily took fifteen or so steady steps across the living room to move between us. We chuckle at the fact you can walk but you still don’t have any teeth! But that is ok since we LOVE your toothless grin.

What a joy each day has been with you. I love our daily rhythms and while I will confess I am ready for a short break when we put you to bed1 at the end of the day, within about an hour I can’t wait to see you in the morning and do it all again. Some of my favorite moments throughout the days include the squeals of joy you give when Daddy comes in the room, listening to you babble and talk with animated gusto, watching you interact with other people and children, the time we spend together while I am nursing you, and the sleepy snuggles right before bed time. And the best parts of all of those moments are the amazing smiles you give. You whole face lights up and your eyes just dance. Even when you give those sleepy, contented smiles as you feed just before bed, the light is no less bright.

People love being on the receiving end of your smiles and you don’t mind rewarding their silly behavior with a big one. If we thought it was true in the beginning, there is no doubt in my mind now—you LOVE being around people. You have always enjoyed the crowd on Tuesday nights as we meet with other families from church and you seem to relish the chaos of so many kids going every which way. As you accompany both Daddy and me on any errand, you take in your surroundings with rapt attention and playfully interact with all who stop to comment on how beautiful your hair is or on how happy and content you are. It is so interesting to continue to hear the comment of what a happy baby you are. When I was pregnant with you, I cannot count how many times nurses would comment while checking on how you were doing, “What a happy baby!” I still don’t know what made them say this, but apparently there was something there because it was the same comment over and over from different people in a wide variety of settings. Clearly, God created you with a joyful spirit that radiates to those around you and it expressed itself even before you were born.

As 2009 comes to a close, I am so thankful for the incredible blessing we have received in you. As we enter 2010 and the years to come, I am eager to see how you grow and bloom into the young lady that God created. You are a unique work of art that the God of Creation knit together with your own blend of personality, passion, and talents. I can’t wait to discover more and more aspects of the masterpiece He has created in you. Happy New Year, Little One!

And with that, I just heard your first stirring from your nap. Let the fun today begin!