Like all parents, I'm wondering where this year went? It flew by in a hurricane-swift gust. And today, my daughter is just a beautiful, happy baby girl. Chattering and laughing. Cooing and crying. Screaming to be heard and oohing and aahing at the world around her. So lovely, this constant state of change. She will soon to be off and running... yet I want this moment to last. I know it is ever so brief, and cannot believe it was a short year ago, that I was huge with child, swollen and impatient to meet her.
Maybe it's because I know this is my last baby... I'm 41 and neither Dean and I have the capacity/energy/patience for another child. We are thrilled with our girls and our family feels complete. But I just want this moment to last a little longer. I want to hold onto the baby cuddles, the coos, the giggles, and the pure beauty of an innocent and all encompassing smile. Katherine brings me such joy everyday, I truly cannot describe this feeling in words. She is just so adorable.
She is on the cusp of crawling and like with Natalie, I'm eager to see where this leads her. Where her curiosity will take her. And of course, how fast I have to chase her to keep up. It's very interesting with a second child to see the similarities and differences to their sibling. Like Natalie, Katherine is a great sleeper (thank you sleeping gods!), pretty easy going and loves to look at books and have them read to her. She is much more animated and silly than Natalie was. She loves to make you laugh and can crack herself up playing with any given toy. This is adorable to watch.
She loves the water as much as Natalie, which is great for FL living and is already a dancing gal like her mama. Turn on a good beat, or punch a musical button on a toy and she gets super excited and moving. We have regular living room dance parties and she loves me to hold her and dance around the room with her. I cannot wait to take Natalie, and then Katherine to their first concerts. And to listen to their first recitals with whatever musical instrument they choose. But for now, I'm going to enjoy holding her, rocking with her and doing anything I can to get that adorable grin on her face. Because I know in a blink of an eye, she will be a teenager and prefer the company of her friends to her mom. So until that day comes, I will soak up every moment of being the center of her universe. It's a pretty good place to be.
So happy birthday Katherine! You are an amazing baby and we love you more than you can know.
