Makayla's First Birthday!

Today holds a very special place in my heart.

Christmas has always been a wonderful time for me and I have always enjoyed it, but now it takes on an entirely new meaning. This time last year, I was breastfeeding my newborn baby for the very first time.

Today my little girl turned 1. I can't believe it's true. She has grown so much in the past year and now that she's one, it's just amazing. I am so excited for what this next year has in store for us as a family. I also can't believe how fast this year went by. I really still don't believe my baby is 1!!!

I went into labor on Christmas Eve last year after watching Miracle on 34th Street. Last night, Adam and I watched that movie again and I just reminisced about what was going on last year. All day today I have been thinking about what was happening this time last year and how totally different things are this year.

We opened all our gifts this morning and Makayla kind of enjoyed it, but I'm pretty sure she liked the paper more than the actual gifts! She'd tear a piece off the box/gift and play with that and we had to finish opening her gifts for her. :) She got a lot of books, which is awesome! Some stuffed animals, some pretty cool toys and a bean bag chair that you fill with stuffed animals. She really loves everything. We got her a rocking dragon too, but we're waiting for her birthday party to give her that.

So this morning, Makayla woke up at normal time (7:15am...) and we just hung out together...came downstairs...opened some gifts...had Brian and Josh over for breakfast and that was awesome. Makayla went down for her first nap and we just hung out...she woke up and we finished opening all our gifts...started Christmas dinner...Makayla had lunch and then went down for her second nap and while she was sleeping, Adam and I ate and then started to watch A Christmas Story, which I have never seen...we're going to finish it soon. 

Then she woke up from her nap and she was really upset with life, so we had to console her for the next hour until she realized she was alright. I took a lovely 1 1/2 hour nap and I woke up at 4:26 pm and waited for the clock to turn to 4:27 pm and said, Happy Birthday Makayla! That's what time she was born, in case you couldn't figure that out... :D

Then, I continued my nap...while I was napping, Adam put Makayla front facing car seat in and I was totally excited!! So we went for a drive because I told Adam that's what I really wanted to do today. When we first put her in, she wasn't such a big fan, but then after we started going, she really liked it. We went to Candy Cane Lane and drove around there and she really just stared at all the lights...I think she likes front facing in the car!! She looks so tiny in her new ginormous car seat, though. Adam says she looks like a Mob boss. It doesn't help that it's huge and she holds onto both of the sides, like a little boss. 

She is so precious to us and I really still can't believe she is a year old. It really didn't hit me until today. I'm so sad, but so happy at the same time. Time seriously does fly. 

Makayla is not walking yet, but I'm totally okay with that. Now that I know she's one, I'm not ready for her to grow up anymore!! She is such a wonderful baby...she eats anything we give her, she's content just playing with all her books and "reading" them. She loves to hang out with me and lay her sweet head on my shoulder and suck her little thumb. Then she pops her head up and looks around wondering if she missed anything. So adorable.

We really do have the best baby ever made. We are so blessed.

Merry Christmas and may you always remember the Reason for the Season.