Happy Valentine’s Day!! Today also happens to be my baby girl’s first birthday. A year ago today at 6:55am, Ruthie rushed into this world, within only half an hour of our arrival at the hospital. I remember waking up at around 4:45am and feeling uncomfortable. So, naturally, I thought I should go finish editing a recent newborn session just in case I was going to be busy having a baby later that day =) Needless to say, I didn’t finish editing before it was very apparent that I was truly in labor and that things were moving quickly! She hurt me only a minimal amount, and I love her extra for that =) One of the really funny things that we distinctly remember about that morning was when the nurse who delivered her (the doctor didn’t make it on time), announced that it was a boy. We thought, “huh… that’s funny… we had 4 ultrasounds!” Then about 5 seconds later she laughed and said, “Oh wait… no, it’s a girl!!!”
Ruthie has been the best addition to our little family. I honestly can’t even come up with the right words to say just how crazy in love with her we are. She has brought so much joy, noise, pink, laughter, and drama into our home over the past year and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Our family is now complete. (sorry mom & dad!)
Before I get to the inevitable picture portion of this post, I think a “Top 10 things I love about Ruthie” list is in order.
1.) Her big, cheery, full-faced smile…. and how quick she is to give it.
2.) Her thighs. Seriously… I can’t get enough of her chubby thighs.
3.) Her soft, reddish-blonde hair that is finally coming in.
4.) How much she adores her brother, despite how rough he can be on her.
5.) And that sometimes she does things just to make him mad.
6.) She growls a lot. Not sure why she does it, but we find it funny.
7.) Her butt dimples, wrist rolls, chubby fingers, etc.
8.) Her awesome belly laugh, especially when you tickle her or get into an intense game of peek-a-boo.
9.) How she plays in the bathtub (stand, bellyflop, then repeat over and over)
10.) Her love of food, especially the good stuff like cookies and cheescake, just like her mama.
11.) And one of my most favourite things is how much she adores her daddy. When he gets home from work and she hears his voice, she’ll squeal and take off crawling towards the kitchen right to him.
12.) And I simply have to mention the fact that she sucks her thumb and snuggles her blankie. Maybe it’ll mean that she’ll need braces later, but for now, I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
Ok, that was 12 things, and I could keep going. But, here are a few highlights from her first year…