Thursday, October 2, 2008

The Big O-N-E

Dear Isabella (aka Bella Mella, Bella, Izzy, Bell Mell),


Happy one year birthday, sweetheart! I cannot believe one year has arrived already.


You know how Momma always tells you that time flies when you're having fun?


I can say from this past year that it has, it truly has!


I knew you were going to be a girl. I knew it! Momma had what I like to call, 'Momma instinct' (so remember that one in the future...I'll always know what you're up to....).


I loved everything about your first year. Breastfeeding, bottle feeding, seeing your first smile, hearing that first hearty laugh that I know all too well (hey, Papa, remember how you made her laugh and laugh? That was funny!), seeing you hold your head and neck up, sitting up alone, cruising, dancing, teething, eating baby cereal at Mema and Papa's, eating baby food, eating grown up food, hearing your first words and walking.


I loved it all, honey.


Because of you I wake up every morning happy to have you here in this world. Happy that I somehow got the best.baby.girl.ever! (Wait, are you still a baby?! Or a toddler?! Well, in my eyes you are still my baby, m'kay?)


Because of you I try to be the best person that I can be. The best Momma that I can be. The best role model that I can be.


I have also learned some valuable lessons from your first year that I want to pass on to you for when you are a Momma:


1) Never turn your back--even for a second--on a baby on a bed. Never.


2) Never put a dog in their crate after pooping on the living room floor BEFORE cleaning said poop up. You will be in for a horrible surprise.


3) Never let a baby think that the remote control, cell phone, keys, calculator are toys. Because they are not. And then when you try to tell a certain little one no....well, lets just say things will get ugly. Real ugly.


4) Never let others tell you how to raise your child. This is your time to live and learn--others have done it and now you can do it. Example: you would only take naps being held. You would also only sleep at nite if you felt someone next to you. Everyone would tell me how bad that was. I let it roll off my back because in my heart I knew someday you would be ready. And you are now. You are a great sleeper and no longer need me (did anyone see my eyes fill up with tears? Because they did....).


5) Always dance with your little one. You and I love to dance. In fact, when you hear certain songs on Noggin you come up to me with your arms open and ready. I drop everything to dance with you, my sweet girl, everything.


6) When you prepare for your baby's arrival you will say such non-sense as: 'When MY baby is here I will NEVER go a day without showering. I will NEVER have my baby cry in public. I will NEVER allow myself to go out in public without makeup.' Because guess what...you will most likely do a majority of those things that you said you would never do....and you won't even care.


7) Always keep reading and read to your little one(s). Knowledge is power my dear and reading is a great way to gain knowledge. You are a bookworm now (just like me) and I am hoping you will keep that fantastic trait and pass it on.


So, my sweet little Bella Mella, on this first birthday I want you to know that I love you. I care for you. And I will always be here for you. To laugh with you, to dry your tears, to mend that broken heart, to hold you when you need a hug.


We have so much to look forward to in our journey called life and I am looking forward to every single second of it.

Love always and forever,

Momma (or as you love to call me, 'mom')

A trip down memory lane....

32 comments:

Simply Shannon said...

Happy Birthday Isabella!
Make sure you follow your Mom's advice...it will save you a lot of trouble if you do.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Such a sweet, sweet post for a sweet, sweet girl!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Jill and Rick said...

Happy Birthday to our SWEET Bella! Mema and Papa love you!

Anonymous said...

Aw, how sweet! Happy birthday! She's so beautiful!

Our o-n-e is around the corner. I can't believe it!

Melissa said...

Happy birthday Isabella! Kids grow up too fast!

My niece turns two today. They grow up far too fast :( But its so much fun to watch them grow!!

Leslie said...

Happy Birthday Bella! Sweet post, loved ALL the pictures. Enjoy your day!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday pretty girl! Great Job momma!

Amanda @ notsoextraordinary said...

she's so precious :) you are truly blessed

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Isabella! I love the photos in this post, what a beautiful birthday tribute! :)

The Nice One said...

What a beautiful birthday tribute!
Happy birthday sweet girl!

llespy said...

Happy Birthday Isabella! It's so hard to believe you are already 1! What a wonderful way to tell the world how much you love your daughter Michelle. You need to print and keep this post in a safe place to give to her when she's older.

Scott and Lisa (and Kids)

amanda said...

oh honey i have tears!!

happy birthday sweet little love!! beans and i feel so lucky to be a part or your journey :)

hope you, mommy and daddy enjoy every moment of this super special day!!

xoxo

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a our beautiful, sweet little great granddaughter!
Yes, Chelle..it was a wonderful post and hope you save it to give her when when she is older. It is beautiful and we love seeing all of the pics again too!
Love to you all,
great gma and gpa

The Mom Jen said...

Oh what a beauty, happy birthday sweet girl!

Patrice said...

Beautiful post! Happy Birthday, Bella!!

The pictures are adorable! Love them!

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

Beautiful and insightful post!!! Loved it. I'm totally with you...I let my kiddos sleep on me too. There's just nothing sweeter than a your baby snuggled against your chest.

Love the picture where she and the bear are staring at each other. Too cute!

Hope you guys have a great time celebrating!

P.S. You probably didn't even notice, but when I changed my blog page to the new one - www.writingthewavesmama.blogspot.com, your blog was missing on my blogroll. I just discovered that today and put it back on there. I'm sorry! You know I love your blog!

Jenny said...

HAppy 1st Birthday Bella! What a year you have had learning and growing. You have a mommy who just loves you to pieces!

Jennifer said...

You did such a great job on this post. Isabella you are one lucky little girl. Happy 1st Birthday

Allison R said...

Happy Birthday Isabella! Your mom's advice is right on.

Kristen said...

Happy Birthday Bella!!

WOW! One!! What a big girl you are already!

Great post Chelle! She is going to love to read that years from now! :)

A Crafty Mom said...

Happy Birthday big one year old girl!!! What sweet words from a proud, loving mom!


#2 - so true, so true ;-)

And I went out today with no make-up so shame on me (and I looked damn scary!).

jOni lAnE said...

AH! Happy birthday beautiful Bella. One already. It goes by soooo fast!

Susan said...

Happy Birthday Isabella!!!
Beautiful post. I am sure your heart swelled with joy and pride as you wrote it. Love the pics!

Unknown said...

I love all the pics but the one where she's facing the bear made me giggle. She's such a doll! And the words are just so sweet and wonderful...

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY ISABELLA!!

(hope she had a great one... she's probably in bed by now!)

Heather B. said...

Happy 1st Birthday sweet baby!! And yes you can still call her a baby! I still do Kendall and Connor for that matter and he is 5. His birthday was yesterday also. So glad to know someone that shares a birthday with him!!!

I hope your day was ONEderful!!

gina said...

Aw, what a trip!
Happy 1st Birthday- look who's a toddler now!

Good list of things- they are all so true! You've momma have a learned and grown a lot this year too!

Becks said...

Happy Happy Birthday Isabella!!

I got goosebumps reading this post. I know exactly how you feel. Life is good!!

I loved seeing her memory lane photos. How fast time goes.

I need to go cry now.

In a good way though.

You have a one year old now!!

Susan said...

What a beautiful letter! You made me cry! Happy Birthday Isabella!! :)

Keri said...

Awww, she's beautiful! Happy Birthday little one!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Hope to see you again sometime :)

Carol said...

Happy Birthday Isabella!

What a gorgeous trip dowm memory lane.

Laural Out Loud said...

Happy Birthday to one of the luckiest little girls in the world!

Chelle- good for you for not listening to others telling you to go against your insticts. You gave Isabella one of the best beginnings possible because you listened to what SHE needed. You are such an amazing mom.

I love reading this post! It's by far one of my most favorite birthday posts ever.

Wendi said...

Happy Birthday Bella!!!

What a sweet post mommy!!!