I am in complete and utter shock at how quickly our first year as a family of four flew by. It’s actually very bittersweet for me. As happy as I am to celebrate her first birthday, I’m also sad to say goodbye to this past year. Corinna has been the most perfect addition to our family and we are so grateful for every single day we spent with her during her first year. I wanted to write a letter to my sweet baby girl on her first birthday, just like I did for Augustine!
A Letter to Corinna on Her 1st Birthday
Dear Corinna,
Happy 1st Birthday my sweet girl! I hope you know how much I love you. You have been the sweetest, most special blessing to your Dada, Augustine, and me. I remember finding out that we were having a girl and just being in shock. A girl, I thought. A GIRL! I had always hoped to have a daughter but you never know what God has planned. How lucky I am to not just get a daughter, but to get YOU!
You came into this world a week early and I’m so happy you did. My March baby became my February baby! I still can’t believe how quick my labor was with you, from getting to the birthing center at 6am and having you at 6:45 (only because I was waiting for your Dad to get there!). We barely had time to draw the water for the birthing tub but we did and you were born into the water. It was so magical! Even now you love your bath time. I can probably count the times on one hand that you cried during bathtime – maybe just 3 times if you can believe it! You don’t even cry when I put water over your head. I have a feeling you’re going to be first in line for surfing lessons from Dada. You really do love the water!
I still pinch myself thinking about all the fun things we have ahead, from playing with American Girl dolls, watching musicals, getting our nails done, having dance parties, braid parties, basically all the parties! While I have been so excited for all that’s ahead, I think I’ve done a really good job this past year of living in the moment and enjoying each stage that you’re in. I know how quickly it’s gone by with Augustine that I just want to soak up all this baby time with you. Even still, it’s gone by too fast and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Corinna, I love your sweet and spunky personality. One minute you’ll get bashful and burrow into my chest when people say hi to you and then the next you’ll be laughing as I try to stop you from crawling into the bathroom. You love to play and laugh. Right now you’re crawling everywhere, and it makes me happy to see you crawl and turn back to see if I’m following you. You know I always am! I remember when you first started clapping – it was too cute and your Dada and I couldn’t get over it. You frequently will just clap your hands together and it always makes me smile. You love music, like your brother, and love to dance and bend your knees. You’re also incredibly flexible and sometimes I’ll be holding you and you’ll be holding your feet up to your ears!
Dada loves how you say “Da-eee Da-eee” for Daddy, and you’ll reach out for him and wave to him before you go upstairs with me for bedtime. Seeing the bond that you two are starting to form makes me so happy, especially as someone who loves her own dad so much. I see a great deal of your Dad in you and some might say you’re his mini-me, even though maybe there’s some of me in there too! You have beautiful light brown hair, with lots of blonde and red highlights, the most stunning sky blue eyes that stop EVERYONE in their tracks, and the most petite little frame. We’re curious if you’ll be petite like your Grandma and Great Grandma!
Augustine loved you from the minute he met you! He is seriously the best big brother, loving and so protective. You should know he really hasn’t felt or shown any jealousy but instead accepted you right into the family. He calls you “Baby Sis,” “Baby,” “Beebs,” “Takinna,” and “Rinny Roo.” He’ll say “Baby, play with me!” and want you to crawl after him. He also frequently asks to hold you and snuggle before/after naptime. It melts my heart! You love to check out all his trucks and it’s so fun to watch you both learning how to share. One of the things I look forward to most is hearing you two talk and play together. It really will be the most fun! Your brother is always looking out for you and when you crawl over somewhere you shouldn’t be, he’ll dash after you and say “No baby!” and try to help/hold you back. You’re so lucky to have a brother you cares about you so much, even since before you were born! Have I told you how he’d always hug and kiss my belly when you were inside?? I have a feeling Augustine will always be there for you, no matter what!
Corinna, you are such a precious blessing from God, and I hope to be a strong, loving, and patient mother. I hope that I can teach you that you can do anything you set your mind to and that you are worthy because you were created by Him. I pray that you always see people through your loving heart, that you maintain your curiosity and zest for life, and that you always know how uniquely special you are.
Happy first birthday my sweet girl, my little love bug, my pumpkin pie! I love you more than you could ever possibly imagine! I can’t wait to watch you learn and grow over this next year and the ones to come!
Love,
Your Mama
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Side note: It’s definitely time to refresh Corinna’s wardrobe now that she is getting so big. Luckily my mom gave her a few cute new pieces for her birthday {How sweet is this animal pattern?? And this floral dress??}, and I might pick up some of the styles I rounded up below too!
SHOP BABY GIRL CLOTHES
Here are a few of my favorite blog posts about my sweet Corinna!
The Things I Can’t Wait to Do with Corinna
xox
photos by Karli Moceri
