Our Baby Is One!

This past Sunday we celebrated our baby girl's FIRST birthday!

I would love to be able to write about how much this past year has meant to me.  I would love to be able to articulate what being a mother has done for my heart.  I wish I could let Lydia know how I love her and how much joy I feel by watching her simply play with her toys or read her books even upside down.  I wish I could bottle up the giggles, the excited squeals and even her cute little cry.  I wish I could always see that little face snuggled into me as I rock her to sleep each night.  But no words or amount of pictures would do any of it justice.

I treasure the moments we have been given this past year and I pray that the stay plastered to my memory forever.  Needless to say, our Lydia Jean has been a true gift.

So we must celebrate!!!

We had her birthday party a month before her birthday so that we could celebrate with family before our move.  We had it at my parents house, 3 hours away from ours, because that's where our family is.  It was a little difficult planning everything while also packing and planning for the move but it was wonderful to see so many people before our move (which was 4 days after her party) and to have everyone love on Lydia.

Because of the craziness of the timing and having to plan so far away, I was not able to do the "go all out" "Pinterest fabulous" birthday party for her I had envisioned.  But I have to remind myself that a good mom is not measured by how creative and beautiful her child's first birthday party is.  The important part was we celebrated this little one's first year!

Lydia's cousin Sydney (7 yo) hung balloons and streamers!

Cupcakes made my mommy

Lydia's favorite part of the whole party:

Of course on Lydia's actual birthday we needed to celebrate too!  Chris' parents were in town visiting over her birthday weekend so it was nice to have some more family here to help us celebrate!

We planned on going to the zoo (we are already members) on her birthday, but went a couple days before after looking at the weather forecast.

We also spent some time this weekend doing one of Lydia's favorite things...playing outside!

Her actual birthday consisted of church, napping, gifts, and cupcakes.  She had a blast playing with her new toys!

Reading birthday cards

Notice the magnet clips- the girl LOVES them

I fell more in love with my husband when I saw him proudly wear, without question of hesitation, Minnie Mouse ears for his daughters birthday.

We took a picture at 8:41, the time she was born and I loved comparing this picture:

3/16/13 8:41 AM

To this picture:

3/16/14 8:41 AM

Who knew one year could be filled with so much?!  I cherish every. single. moment.  Oh Lydia Jean, you will never know what an incredible answer to prayer you are for your daddy and me!

Lesson From Walkin' In Memphis

This weekend marks 1 month since we have lived in Tennessee and about one month since I posted this picture:

That would be Lydia needing the slightest tip of a finger to walk.  This went on for about a month- her needing the reassurance.  She honestly never ventured to take steps on her own no matter how much verbal encouragement we would give her and no matter how steady we could tell she was on her own even while holding on to us.  We would slide our finger out from her grasp and to the ground she would collapse.  I could not wait to see those first steps!  But so far her personality is much like her daddy's, curious and interested in everything but careful and thoughtful.  She studies a situation and when comfortable, dives in!  She just wasn't ready to take any kind of step unassisted.  

I felt as though this was an early lesson in motherhood that God was teaching me as my baby was coming upon a pretty major milestone.  There are dreams I have for Lydia, as any mother does.  First and foremost I pray everyday she comes to know and accept Christ as her savior.  After that, I hope she grows healthy and strong, has many positive and encouraging friends, does well in school, participates and succeeds in many activities, marries a godly man and gives us grand babies.  I hope and pray in all of this Christ shines through her so others can see his love and grace and come to know Him as well.

As wonderful and well intentioned my hopes may be for her, God's are even more so.  And as hard to believe as it is, He loves her even more than I do.  As she grows she may fulfill the dreams I have for her.  She may not.  My role as her mother is to not force my desires onto her, but to desire for her to grow to be who God created her to be.  

Lydia took her first unassisted steps while we were having dinner with our new neighbors on February 21st.  It was totally unexpected.  She was holding on to their coffee table and 1step...2 step...3 step...4 step...down.  She did it!  From then on, it was as if she had been walking all along.  

God knew her time to start walking would be 2/21/14.  Telling her "okay...time to walk" when I thought she should be would not have worked.   Instead, it was my job as a mommy to give her my pinkie finger while she learned the balance, coordination and motor planning needed to walk independently.  I have thought a lot lately about how important it will be for me to die to myself and my desires as a momma.  Instead, I pray for God to guide me as I support my daughter in finding who she is in Christ and what that means for her life.  In God's time, she will continually meet the milestones laid out for her by the one who made her- fearfully and wonderfully.