Happy Birthday Dear Meagan!

Today is the day I thought would not be here for such a long time. I foolishly thought the same thing with Meagan's older sisters, as well. Babyhood is such a sweet time; but it's made of lots of....awake time!

I don't recall if I've written about one of my favorite mommy sayings, but here it goes. When Allison was still an infant, a neighbor down the street who had three kids who were about 6, 8, and 10 at the time, told me to enjoy Allison being little while I could. "The days are long, but the years are short." Her words have rung in my head so many times since then. I wish I knew with Allison and Emma what I have realized with Meagan.

Anyway, you'd think I'd learn...but apparently I have not. And here we are, my little one's first birthday is here and I cannot believe it. In the beginning, it really does go by so slowly. And you look at those outfits the organized friends in your life give you; the 12-month outfits that your friends say, "I thought I'd give you some bigger outfits because I knew you'd get tons of newborns." (and she's right) and you think, "Okay, but I CANNOT imagine when she'll be able to wear this."

Because it seems like that one year mark is SOOOO far away. Alas, it has found us. And I am thankful it has. It means we have a healthy baby, full of life, curious as she should be, learning new tricks DAILY; our little miracle reminding us day in and day out of God's much undesevered goodness -- of His persistant purpose and plans being accomplished as a direct result of his sovereignty. How amazing. Comforting. Sobering. Challenging.

Meagan is her own gal. We are learning more and more about her little personality every single day. It's too early to speculate - I won't speak things this early in the game. She'll show us who she is; she already is. In the meantime, I pray for God's will to be accomplished in her life more and more with each day. I thank Him for the things I've learned as a direct result of being her mommy. I praise him for the sweetness I've seen in her sisters who are absolutely IN LOVE with her. And I marvel at the man I married; this man who once told me God would NEVER give him all girls because God knew he could not handle it. This man who sees so much of life in black and white; through a logical, step-by-step lens, this man has been given three little women...and their mother. And he is good at it. He is crazy about his girls. Loves them like crazy and scratches his head at their "girlness." Bugs his eyes out at me when they aren't looking - as if to say, "What the heck?!" If I only had an answer!

Happy birthday, Dear Meagan! You are a pure joy...your mommy loves you so very much! I love squeezing you and tickling you until you laugh and scream and show your little teeth. I'm glad you still like to lay in my arms for your ba-ba. You are still so tiny - your daddy and I are glad for that...it has helped us to feel like you are our baby for longer. You are such a lovey-dove! Your free, un-asked for slobbery kisses are THE BEST! You love your sissies so much and they are crazy about you. Everyone who knows you loves you and recognizes that you are a special little lady. We love you, little one!