Happy birthday to my beautiful Anna

Dear Anna,

How can I even begin to explain your first year of life?

I made this slideshow and sent it to your dad, and his exact response was:

"I just died a little. That was a roller coaster of a year relived completely in three minutes. She is the best person there will ever be."

  

Anna, you have been absolutely just a pure joy in my life. You are the part of our family I didn't know was missing, and every day I look forward to the moment that I get to see your smiling face.

I think part of me will also hold you just a little tighter after everything you've been through. I will probably always feel the need to protect you fiercely. And I try to treasure every single moment we're together, because I know these moments are numbered, and there was a time when we thought we wouldn't have many more at all.

My absolute favorite part of my every day is when I pick you and Emerson up from the sitter after work. Every day, you are SO happy to see me, and you just laugh and jump and squeal. Talk about validating someone's emotions and existence.

And then at night, when I read you a book and start singing you a bedtime song, as if on cue, you lay your head on my shoulder and cuddle up . Every night I swear I don't ever want to re-live another moment more than this, because it's so perfect and I will never take it for granted because I know how few of these moments I will get as your mother. (Though if you want to cuddle when you're 20, just know I'm on board with that!)

If you remember nothing else from your childhood, I want you to remember how much we love you, how much we appreciate you, how much we adore you, and how much joy you bring to our family.

I love you more than you could ever possibly know.

Happy birthday sweetheart!

Love,

Mama