Sweet Liv, 

You turned one year old last week. I can hardly believe it. Though I feel like I should be mourning your baby-ness, I am too busy enjoying your sweet little toddler-ing self. 

We had a little donut-themed birthday party for you, and it was pretty sweet (get it?!? Sorry, the Mom jokes will never end- just accept it now). You were precious, hardly fussed (if at all), and everyone enjoyed seeing and holding and playing with you. Friends showed up and family drove in- all for a party you will only remember through pictures- but what a special party, and special people who all love you very much. I am positive that all of the faces we saw that morning were the same people who prayed for your existence long before you were ever created. 

So, we had a celebration! There was sugar. A lot of it-- and coffee, though you mostly stuck to the sugar. 

Certainly not our best family photo, but we are all in it, and that is the main thing...

When it came time to blow the candle out, you didn't bother with any of that blowing stuff and proceeded to just smash that flame out with your hand. It's so typical of the way you like to do things. There was a slight pause as everyone waited to see if you'd cry...and then you just said, "Oooooooh..." with your lips puckered as you stared at the smoke. Haha. You surprise me so and I love your style.

Of course, big brother needed to "help" you unwrap all of your gifts and then decided which ones you should play with first. Among lots of other wonderful gifts, you received a custom-made "walker" (complete with tennis balls) and a handmade Princess Leia headband (you can thank your brother's Star Wars obsession and your Auntie's ingenuity for that). I'm not sure it gets better than that as far as 1st birthday gifts go. And this year, you have Halloween on lock.

Lately, I've nicknamed you "Velcro" because you've been quite....well...clingy to me. But honestly, I know I will miss it someday, so there is always a part of me that is thankful that you want me to hold you. I wished to be holding you for a long time, so it only seems right to be doing so- even if it's kind of all day long. 

After the party wound down, I found you playing with a deflated balloon in the kitchen. I honestly think that was the most fun toy you played with all day. Of course! Haha. You make me laugh with your grunts and growls- the more excited you become, the more you start to sound like a tiny noise factory that just can't get all the sounds out fast enough. 

You have impressed me so much, tiny girl. You started walking just days before your first birthday, and now you are getting around pretty quickly. You are determined, quick to smile, quick to cry, loud, sweet, and I think you have inherited your Daddy's resilience and generally happy demeanor. God knew just what we needed. 

Liv Caroline, good times never seemed so good. We love you!