Thoughts from long ago

I found a couple of blog posts I had written around the time of Emerson's first birthday.  As my blogging fell to the wayside, I never published them!  The following words perfectly summed up my feelings of her first year...

March, 2013
Emerson woke up with a fever yesterday, and congestion hit shortly thereafter. She has been a fussy, sleepy crankypants for the last 24 hours. Her sweet eyes are red-rimmed and watery, and she was up almost every hour last night wanting to nurse...probably to ease a sore throat, if my symptoms are an indicator of hers. So today we are both exhausted and a bit out of sorts. Poor baby girl screamed and screamed when I put her down for a nap...long enough that I went to get her. But the minute she was in my arms, the screaming stopped, her eyes closed, and her breathing became deep and even. And even though I probably could have put her back in bed, I'm sitting in the rocker with my little girl against my chest, prepared to let her sleep as long as she needs. These moments are almost nonexistent these days...a little girl has too much learning and exploring to do to stop and snuggle with mommy...and is old enough to take a nap without being rocked to sleep.

Everyone warns you that time with your baby goes too quickly, but--my goodness--I was unprepared for how rapidly this year flew by. I'm so grateful for every single moment I've had holding, rocking, nursing, and snuggling this (not so) tiny bundle I've wanted for so long. This past year has been absolutely the best year of my life. God has given me the most beautiful gift allowing me to be a mother to this baby girl.