One

Sweet Sprout, I cannot believe you have spent an entire run around the sun with us! After waiting for you for so very long to join our family, it feels as though time is just speeding by!

After chattering for months (you have lots to say), you are finally finding your (recognizable to us grown ups) words.  There’s “Whoa” and “Hi” and “Mom” and “Mama” and “Ma” coming through as clear as day!  Then, there’s “At” for “cat” and a variety of other sounds to bring attention to the dogs and chickens, respectively.  Plus, we can’t forget the signs for “eat”, “milk”, “more”, and “done”!

You’re crawling and cruising and so very close to walking on your own…but holding on to our fingers and running is so much more fun than trying to find your balance when there are so many places to go and people to see!  But you are beginning to do battle with furniture and architecture (I think you won the battle with the fireplace, but it was a close call!), so I know the steps are coming soon!  In the meantime, there are falls and bumps and growls in frustration…there are scrapes and fat lips and tears on mama’s shoulder.

You love to observe…to sit back and take it all in…before jumping into any given situation.  Sometimes you give the meanest little faces because you are unsure or unhappy or just not having any of it!  We’ll work on that when you’re old enough to understand 😉

You’re also a bit of a daredevil.  Trusting fully that everything will be just fine when you try to go headfirst off the bed or the back step (with full intention and shining grin), even though we’ve practiced going backward for months.

Your affinity for all things that come out of the garden is really just so amazing.  From green beans and apples to tomatoes and lemon balm, it always amazes me how much you love fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs.   The other day, while visiting the urban farm, you crawled off and I heard you giggling by the mint container…I was sure you’d found a bug or a mouse or something to play with, but no!  You were just so pleased to be sitting under a canopy of mint, picking pieces one and one and eating them 🙂

You’ve traveled more in the past year than your Mom and I have traveled in the past few years!  You’ve seen, St. Louis twice as well as Washington, D.C., Denver, and Indianapolis and we’re on our way to California next week where you’ll get to meet the ocean for the first time!  I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you stick your toes in the sand for the first time!

You’ve met family from all sides of our trees and are so very blessed to be surrounded by so many loving people.  My only regret is that we don’t get to spend more time with them all.

You show your love and appreciation for people you trust by slowly leaning in towards them and touching your forehead to their forehead in an acknowledgment of being that can only be described as pure love and magic.  And this gentle acknowledgement reminds me of your big sister and how, when she was little and accepted someone into her space, she would gently touch her fore finger to the center of their forehead.

My sweet Ember, you are the light of my life and your Mom and I are so very blessed to have and know and love you.  I am so excited to stand by your side and watch you explore this ever-changing world of ours.  Thank you so much for choosing me to be your Mama.

xoxo,
M