A Letter to My Daughter on Her First Birthday

A Letter to my daughter on her first birthday

The last two blog posts I’ve published have been a build-up of letters leading up to the grand day of Alína turning one. Yet somehow, as I wrote the first letter to Alína at 10 months and 11 months, I still somehow couldn’t anticipate the emotions of writing the final letter welcoming Alína to her first year on this earth.

Lucky for me, you can’t see my tears of excitement and pride as I type, but I hope as you, and one day she reads this, I can deliver at least half of what it means to have a one-year-old.

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Alína's first birthday

Typical Mom STYLE

well, your mom’s typical style, I was sick on your birthday. I somehow picked up a draft on our family trip to the big apple, and my southern loving body temperature couldn’t handle that northern cold. Your birthday was still really special. Your daddy and I got you the cutest car, because why not? You are officially the owner of a Benz, and at a year old you are styling and profiling sis! And if I can be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The truth is, you were a blessing that came at a fight.

Alína

spoilt

We spoil you with love because you deserve every ounce of it. You are the blessing I never knew I needed and cannot live without. Together we have grown and in just one year, you have taught me a lifetime of lessons. One is the importance of self-care and how we can make that into a family assignment. We love our Akili show time (youtube) and for a one-year-old, you live for a little screen time. Yet the simple intimate moments that we spend reading, crawling, and climbing through our home jungle gym, are just as special to you.

In your one year of life, you went through a lot Lína. Your milk protein allergy has been a consistent hardship that I wish I could take away, but you have been so strong. Before we even found out how allergic you were to milk proteins, for six weeks of having milk protein, you smiled, you coo'd and gave us no obvious signs of pains. Drs are still amazed by your strength. Dear Alina, you are strong and as you grow you will continue to ooze nothing but strength, honestly, that is what you have given me, strength.

Strong

F

U

N

Last month, I was so worried because you took a little fall with your walker, and my anxiety convinced me that you would never try to use your walker again. At first I was right, you went into limp leg mode and refused to walk. But after a day with G-Mamma, everything fell into place! These past few days you've been wanting to do everything but crawl! You're back to playing with your walker and even with the falls you've had, you still get back up and try again. Your strength is your resilience. Beyond being strong, Alína you are FUN! You and daddy are partners in crime and although I hate to admit it, he is the captain of the fun ship and you're his favorite co-pilot. It's your first birthday and I can't get over how in one year you have redefined what fun means for 30 and 32 year old.

It's your first birthday and in one year I have slowly begun to understand the assignment of one of your names, Ocean. You do everything big and wide and unpredictably perfect. You've turned me into one of those moms that "awws" and take pictures at every moment. But you make that easy, especially the picture moments. If you can't tell already, from the build-up of all your pics covering my blog, you are photogenic and love a good photo opt- as long as you get to see the picture.

O

C

E

A

N

Your name has meaning

Just like the ocean, you unequivocally take up space...

365

It’s your first birthday, you’ve blessed earth for over 365 days and whether you realise it or not, you have such a big purpose. You are a world changer and have already changed your fathers and my life. As we push through another 365 days together, and you continue to grow, teeth, learn how to walk and more, I promise I’ll do all I can to prepare you to be an even better woman than your mom, and the best version of yourself.

I love you cherub,

Happy Birthday ♡

2 Comments

Celeste Turner says:

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This is so beautiful and a blessing she will cherish for life. I have a pandemic granddaughter who turned a year old on February 21st..she walking and has developed her own personality attitude. I say yes spoil them, but be sure to make the necessary decisions to correct her. Cause they will grow up and you don’t want to deal with an unruly teen. But, I know ya’ll got this. She is precious, I would spoil her too….any plans for a sibling? Love you now three so much. ❤

- Steph Bee says:
  
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  Thank you so much!
  Happy b-lated birthday to your granddaughter! We definitely plan to keep spoiling Alina- within reason of course,lol. The sibling’s conversation keeps coming up for her dad lol but we will have to wait and see, for now, I plan to just enjoy Alina ❤… I heard it is when you have multiples that life gets a bit hard ..is that true? 👀