Braelynn had a Birthday!

My Beautiful Baby turned the bittersweet age of one.  It is so fun to watch the enormous changes that occur during those first 12 months of life. But it is so sad to see them transition to a toddler right before your eyes and not be able to slow time down.  Braelynn has been such a blessing to have in our home.  I had a really hard time adjusting to having four kids.  There was a lot of chaos.  But it has made our family draw closer to each other and to the Lord and I'm thankful for the chaos. 

 Braelynn received her first cabbage patch doll for her birthday.  (I had to go to four stores to find someone who carried cabbage patch dolls. Crazy.)  She loves to love on the baby dolls and was very excited.

Giving baby loves.

We kept trying to get her to take a bite of the cake but she just wanted to mush frosting in her fingers.

Finally she tasted cake and decided it was pretty good.  She really isn't a very messy eater but she loved every bite.

My dearest Braelynn, Thanks for being mine.  You have the unbelievable ability to make me smile even in the midst of 1am sleep rage.  Your cry brings your siblings to your side to comfort you every time.  You make us work hard to earn your smiles and laughter but once you start laughing everyone laughs with you.  You take things at your own pace.  At 12 months you still aren't walking.  You are so very close and I think you are holding out on us.  You stand on your own with incredible balance but laugh when we try to convince you to move your feet.  At your 12 month check up you weighed in at only 18 lbs, putting you in the 6th percentile.  You were 28.54 inches in length (that's the 26th percentile).  You are my itty bitty and yet you still have the chubby cheeks.  I love you so much.  Thanks for dancing to your own beat (and boy do you Love to dance). Thanks for being a momma's girl and always wanting snuggles.  Thanks for being such a great sleeper and always waking up cheerful even if I don't.  Thanks for being mine.