Happy Birthday Baby!

"I Prayed for this child and the Lord granted me what I asked of Him." 1 Samuel 1:27

I can't believe that a year ago almost to the hour we were meeting Miss Finley Grace for the first time. I get very emotional when thinking about that day. I was very fortunate to have a scheduled birth so I remember so vividly the feelings I felt leading up to her birth and what exactly we did. It's so cliche to say but it really does go by so fast and it just seems like yesterday we were on our way to the hospital. Oh what a year!!

Finley is such an amazing little girl and so full of personality and energy!! She loves to have all the attention on herself and is a total ham. It is an understatment to say that she is independent. She has been walking since she was 91/2 months and running since 10 months. She is such a happy baby and I love it when random people walk up to us on a plane or grocery store and are amazed at how happy she is.

I want to be the best mother. I have never struggled with wanting to be the best at anything. It's kinda sad but I never cared about excelling in school, career, sports ect. but motherhood is something that I want so badly to be not just good at but great at. I want her to see Christ in all that I do just like I see and have always seen in my own mom. I strive to be a better person everyday for her.

I love to see her excitement when she sees a balloon, gets to pet a puppy, or sees her daddy come in the door. I love that she reaches for me when she wants to feel secure but that she runs in the nursery at church with excitement and doesn't look back. I love how she learns something new everyday it seems and claps with joy when she realizes that she's done something good. She loves to blow kisses and we have never had to teach her to hold her baby doll close. She is already such a nurturer! I love to see her try and get someones attention when they are not looking at her. She loves to dance and take baths. And I love the way that she loves me back and the sound of her lazy giggle. Needless to say I love everything about her.

I am so blessed, not only with a sweet little girl, but also a great and loving husband who strives to be the best father to Finley. He loves her so much and reguardless of how tired he is he will run around the house tirelessley and let her chase him just to hear her giggle. He can make her laugh like no other. I love to hear people say that she looks like her daddy and I hope that she gets his gentleness and patience.

This year has been the best year of our lives . We are constantly reminded of God's mercies. We are so humbled by His grace and pray that she will always desire to keep Him first in her life.