January 18th, 2007

You were so different from your sister, right from the start. I had an extremely easy delivery with you to include comic relief from my OBGYN who kept having to leave the room to deliver other babies who were in worse shape than you. Your apgar scores were high, you cried like you should and you weighed in at eight pounds, two ounces. And you slept. Thank God you slept. The second night in the hospital you slept 6 hours straight. I didn't know what to do with myself. But I was scared and nervous and happy that you were in our lives. Another baby? I didn't know I could do it. But you made it unbelievably easy.

You love to be tossed into the air; you love yogurt and feeding yourself; you love cuddling in the morning; and you really love your sister. She does her "silly dance" for you almost daily and it cracks you up. She made it up just for you. You watch her and study her and want to be just like her. You two already make such great sisters.

You can say "bye" and "go" and "momma" and "dadda". You shake your head no when you don't want something. You reach for the ones who love you the most - all the Grandparents, your teachers at school, me, Ray. Your laugh is contagious. Most of the videos we have of you are of you laughing.

You love to be turned upside down. You will sometimes fling yourself backwards when we are holding you.

You love to sleep on your stomach, clutching a blanket. When I rock you to sleep at night, I always rock you just a few minutes longer, stare at you, brush the hair out of your face. I give you a quick kiss. I will miss you as a baby, but I will cherish watching you grow up just as I do your sister. I can't imagine life without you.

Happy First Birthday Audrey. I love you.