a year ago today i was laying in a hospital bed, being fed ice chips by my husband and watching the clock, just aching to hold our bella grace! this day exactly one year ago holds some of the most precious memories. being surrounded by our friends and family, praising god for his gift of life, falling in love with bella for the first time... and nick for the second, third, fourth... time(s).
because i'm feeling particularly nostalgic today, here are some of my favorite pictures of bella's first moments of life. precious.
i hope i never forget the feeling of holding her for the first time. the feel of her tiny hand clasping my finger. how my heart swelled when i saw the tears in nick's eyes when he saw his little girl. the excitement of our family&friends that filled our room. a year later, i love her even more. we've watched her learn to roll over, eat food on her own, crawl around our house with reckless abandon and take her first step. we've gotten to know her personality and know she has plenty of it :) we know she is a social butterfly, that she loves attention and that the endless kicking she did in my belly was only a sign of things to come!
tears are filling my eyes as i type this post, for i am just so thankful to be her mama. i can't wait for what's to come for our little girl and feel so blessed and grateful to be a part of what god has for her.
happy birthday, our sweet bella grace! you have given us so much joy and taught us so much about god's amazing love for us. we love being your mama and your daddy. we know god has such great things ahead for our little family and we will be faithful in continuing to pray over you and for you all the days of our lives.
"for i know the plans i have for you, declares the lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you and hope and a future." (jeremiah 29:11)
love,
mama&daddy.
I love the pictures! And the way you described the experience of meeting her for the first time pretty much made me want to go have another baby! Ha! There's nothing like that newborn in the hospital experience...=)
ReplyDeleteMotherhood has suited you so well. Happy birthday to miss Bella Grace!
thank you, sweet friend!!!! i love you!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you are making all moms cry this morning!! Love seeing all of her monthly pictures together. It is so crazy how fast that first year flies and how much they grow and change and learn. It is so crazy to see her sitting there in that first picture, needing to be propped up by the blanket with a somewhat blank stare on her face all the way to the last pic where she's like, "Um, can I just stand up already and jump outta here?" and personality just splashing out of her. So so fun. She is truly a gift to you and Nick and it's been so fun to watch her grow this first year! You are such a great mom! Happy Birthday, sweetie pie!!
ReplyDeleteLove my girls....great job babe
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to Bella! I love how you took monthly pictures of her and labeled them. We did something similar, taking photos of Noah each month next to the same stuffed bear...it's cute to see how at first it engulfed him and now he towers over it at 2 yrs old. I wish I'd have thought to physically put the number of months in the photo though so I could keep better track of them!
ReplyDeleteAww, Happy 1st Birthday to your sweet Bella Grace! She is absolutely beautiful! Tears were filling MY eyes as I read this and related to every word you said. Emma will turn a year old in September, and watching her grow older every day is so bitter sweet. Thank you for this wonderful post!
ReplyDeletePS--Stop by my blog when you have a chance.... you've been featured! :)