Dearest Olivine

Dear Olivine,

It was a year ago that you entered our lives. The day I met you was the best day of my life. The past year has gone by so quickly, and has been so full of amazing moments. Watching you grow, watching you learn, and change, has filled my days with joy and bliss. This year hasnt all been easy either. You are an amazing baby, but you are a baby, and babies can be hard. Being a new parent feels confusing, scary, and exhausting. I was so worried about every thing! Were you breathing at night? Were you eating enough? Too much? Was I somehow doing something that would mess you up... forever? Just when I would think I had something figured out, you would change, and I was back scrambling to find the new solution. You sure kept me on my toes sometimes!

The first couple months, you were easy. You slept all the time, and ate well. We took you everywhere, and I remember thinking: "What was everyone talking about? This is EASY". You only cried when you were hungy, and then would be happy once fed again. Easy Easy. I had my own issues that werent easy, like difficulty nursing and loads of feelings of guilt and inadiquacy. But you, were this little swaddled, sleeping, angel.

Then you hit a bump in the road the doctors called colic and/or acid reflux. I would hold you while you would just scream and scream and scream! Nothing I would do would help you. I felt helpless, scared, and so bad! Luckily, the doctor put you on medication and changed your formula to milk allergy formula, and TADA! You were back to happy baby. You would smile, and laugh and it was so amazing watching you "wake up" to the world. You would stare at everything. You were alert and happy!

Then, you figured out how to move around. You decided very early that you wanted to do and see everything! You were rolling by 4 months, and crawling by 7. You were grabbing everything and putting everything in your mouth! You teethed fast too, you were just on the go!

In the past year I have come to learn different parts of your blooming personality. You have always been so determinded and focused. You know what you want, and you work and work till you get it. You are easy to please, and adaptable to different situations. You love people! You love attention. You love to laugh. Your so sweet. You give kisses. Your also so beautiful! Your hair is growning into this amazing curly honey-gold color. Your eyes are crystal blue, like your father's. Everywhere we go people stop me and tell me how adorable you are, and you are.

I am so proud of you. Everything you do, everything you are, is just perfect. I know that your far too young to understand any of this that I am writing, but I imagine you as an adult reading this. I wonder what you will be like then. I wonder if your personality will remain this way. I wonder how you enjoyed your childhood. All of this I wonder, but one thing I do know is that I will still love you more than describable. I know that how ever you end up, I will still be proud of you, and would gladly give my life for your happiness. You are my love, and always will be my baby girl.