A Letter to my One-Year-Old Rory Lou

Rory love, you turned one year old yesterday.  It seems so cliche to say that this year has flown by, but it truly has.  How is it possible that I brought you into this world 365 days ago?  It seems like yesterday and then again, you are such a perfect fit in our family that it's almost impossible to remember what life looked like before you were in it.

If I'm being completely honest Roars, while I was pregnant with you, I wasn't sure that I could love another human as much as I love your sister.  It seemed impossible that my heart would be big enough for you both.  But it is.  It so is.  You are my sweet little mama's girl and you always have been.  All those doubts about my love for you were washed away once I saw your huge 9lb 2oz self on August 31, 2015.  In fact, I feel that I actually cherished your infancy much more than I did with Ryan because I knew how quickly it would be over.

You have the most infectious smile.  You have the longest and darkest eyelashes ever.  You have olive toned skin and red hair!  You have always been such a beauty.  Some say you favor Daddy's looks while others tell me you look like me.  I'm still not sure, but I think you are mix of us both.  You talk and babble but not nearly as often as your sister did/does.  But you are a sneaky one.  Always dashing off to things you shouldn't be doing when you think I'm not paying attention.  And when I catch you, you laugh at me!  You know it's a game and you love it.

I am so excited to see you learn and grow.  You are already trying so hard to keep up with your big sis.  I know you are both anxious to be able to run around together but I am fine with you taking your time.  I hope that always know how much I love you.  You bring me so much joy every day.  As you grow into toddlerhood and childhood and your teen years and into your young adult life, my hope is that you always come to me with your doubts, fears, joys, dreams, and prayers.  I am your mama and I always will be, but someday, I hope that I'm also your best friend.

Happy 1st birthday my sweet second born.  I love you to the moon and back.

Love,
Mommy