Amelia:: On your first birthday

Written on April 11, 2012

My sweet Amelia girl,

One year ago today, I had just spent the night in the hospital being induced and woke up to what I thought was going to be a horrible day and ruin the day of your birth. I had to have c-section. Now looking back at it, I have no idea what I was so worried about. It was the best day of my life and I am so grateful for everything that happened that day. It might not have been what I had planned, but it was our story and our beginning and I couldn't ask for anything more than a healthy you. I remember one year ago, sitting in the hospital bed, just staring at you and wondering what I did to be the most blessed person in the world. You were perfect and beautiful and healthy. 

You are now one year old... how did this happen so fast? You were the most perfect baby I had ever laid my eyes on. You are every mother's perfect child. I have zero complaints about you. You are so easy to take care of and give me so much joy. You grow so much every day and I just can't believe my baby is one. You have been asleep for about an hour now, and even when I walk past your room I just miss you. Your dad and I take care of you all day, and then we lay in bed and talk about you. What you learned today, how happy you are, what funny things you do and how much we love you. We are so overcome with the love we feel for you and you consume our every thought and action.

We have been your parents for a whole year and you are alive, happy, and healthy. I say it's a bit of a miracle and I am happy your are our guinea pig child. You are so easy and just go with the flow, which is good because half the time I don't know where our "flow" is going! What I do know about this last year is you showing us more laughter, happiness, worry, and a bit of heaven on earth than we have ever experienced.

You are gaining such a zeal for life. You enjoy it to the fullest. You show me the most simple, heavenly happiness I didn't know existed. You certainly have a mind of your own and you are not afraid to express it openly. You have so many expressions and can probably go through 20 different faces/moods in about 1 minute. You are one clever girl. Watching your grow and learn surprises me on a daily basis. You learn new "tricks" every day. I dream of your future and what kind of woman you will grow into. Thinking about how I hope you will be inspires me to change myself into a better person. Being your mom is the greatest honor. Not just because I became a mom, but because I have been given the blessing of being your mom. I am so grateful I get to be a part of your life and watch you grow up and change this world. In the book The Help, is says every child is kind, smart, and important. I hope you remember that every day of your life because that is the very description of who you are.

We love you Millie Mae. 

The Big Apple

 Anthony and I went to NYC for spring break. It was so much fun. I had never been, so I absolutely loved it. We did all the touristy things and some local things. We were lucky enough to score an apartment rental for the break. We were on Columbia campus renting a law students apartment. It was tiny and I can say that I am so glad we don't live in NYC. I just couldn't do it with a kid. So small.

We walked an average of 9 miles a day and took the subway 4-6 times a day. That is a lot of work with a stroller! 

Advice:: DO NOT TAKE THE SUBWAY AT 5:00 WITH A STROLLER.

Amelia would take her morning nap in the stroller and then we would go back to the apartment for her afternoon nap. She had to wear her snowsuit the whole trip and had a stroller shield. It was freezing and rainy, but it was blast

My Great Grandma's house in Danellen, NJ. Where she grew up

The Rimple Family. Anthony helped baptize them. 7 years ago.

In Jersey City

Our tiny apartment. whole apartment captured in 3 pictures.

Hoboken

The Statue of Liberty was closed because of Hurricane Sandy, but it was still fun to see.

9/11 Memorial

The grocery mart around the corner. It was the size of a gas station, but surprisingly had a lot of the essentials.

Times Square.

It wasn't busy at all this day.

Partially because it was raining and freezing.

30 Rock.. Liz Lemon??! No.

At FAO Shwartz. Loved that store.

The MET

Columbus Circle

Empire State Building. 

One of my favorite parts of the trip.

[[Picture Overload]]

The Stardust Diner

China town. 

I really liked this Chinatown. It wasn't as dense at San Francisco.

However, don't eat their street meat. Anthony learned the hard way. 

Times Square.. It was warm this time and SO CROWDED

Toys R Us in Times Square

The Disney Store. 

I wanted to buy Amelia everything.

Anthony did not.

A final dessert to say goodbye

We are going to try and go back during the fall. I want to see the leaves in Central Park.