Mercedes - Happy 1st Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERCEDES!

It's hard to believe, but today, my beautiful baby girl, you turned one year old! We had your party today at Bubie and Zaidie's and all of your friends and family spoiled you rotten! It's so wonderful to see how much everyone loves you, because we love you that much also. You had a great time at your party - eating, drinking milk, showing off your pretty party dress, eating your personalized cupcakes, and of course, opening presents.

It has been such a joy watching you grow over the past year. I love you more than words can ever say - it's something you'll understand when you become a mother. I actually said to your Zaidie yesterday that I understand now how much he loves ME. It really is the best feeling in the world - kissing you, snuggling you, playing with you, loving you. You are a wonderful little person and I can't wait to see how much you change and learn and grow in your second year.

On Tuesday you start daycare full-time with Pat and I, unfortunately, go back to work. I am sad to go and leave you - I'm going to miss my special days with you and feel sad that I'll only get to spend a couple of hours a day with you. But so far you seem to love daycare and are adjusting just fine. I know you'll flourish and thrive there, which makes going back to work much easier. I'll still miss you like crazy though!

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl.

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 11.5 Months Old

Dear Mercedes,

Your first birthday (and your party!) is only two weeks away. I know I keep saying it, but time keeps FLYING by. Honestly, every day you seem to change and grow right before my eyes. Day by day you become smarter, sweeter, funnier and hard to believe, but even more gorgeous! Your personality just shines through in every thing you do. A little shy at first, but once you are confident in a situation you have NO problem going after what you want and voicing your (loud) opinion about it! You know what you want and nothing else will do!

You are cuddly and sweet and affectionate, but also love to play rough and tumble and don't put up with any crap, even from your older, male playmates! You are also FUNNY. You make 'jokes' and love to laugh and do things on purpose to get a reaction out of us. It's pretty awesome to see how wonderfully smart you are and how quickly you can figure things out these days.

Oh, and you also, finally... CRAWLED! At 11+ months, you finally decided to just do it. You still prefer scooting most of the time - you're better at it - but at least now you have options! I love watching you practice new skills - nothing makes me prouder!

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 10.5 Months Old

Dear Mercedes,

Happy New Year!! It's hard to believe that 2009 is already over - it has, without a doubt, been the BEST, most challenging, rewarding year of my life and I owe it all to you. I don't think I can ever fully explain what you mean to me and how much you enrich my life. I look at you and my heart swells - I can't help but smile... and really, all I want to do is freeze time. Watching you grow and learn new things is amazing, but it just means that you are closer to one and closer to me having to leave you to go back to work. I dread it - because staying home with you has been the most wonderful experience. I just love spending time with you and I am sorry that our moments together will be fewer. If I could stay home with you, I would in a heartbeat.

On another note, your first Chrismukkah season was a huge success! You were spoiled, of course, and it was so much fun sharing those special moments (and turkey dinners!) together. Happy New Year my beautiful girl. May 2010 bring nothing but joy and happiness to all of us.

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 9 Months 1 Week Old

Dear Mercedes,

Today marked a couple of new first for you! You sat up from lying down all on your own! You attended your very first birthday party (well, first friend's birthday party - family doesn't count!) AND you visited Santa for the very first time!

Of course, you cried your eyes out the second you sat on Santa's lap, but that's okay - it made for a very cute picture! At least you had lots of fun at Owen's party. Watching you interact with your friends is one of my favourite things. I hope you'll still be friends with them years and years from now!

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 9 Months Old

Dear Mercedes,

I just finished watching one of my favourite shows (Grey's Anatomy) and it struck me that exactly 9 months ago, on a Thursday just like this one, in front of Grey's Anatomy - I realized I was in labour! It's hard to believe that tomorrow you turn 9 months old - out as long as you were in! You are growing up so fast and I fall more and more in love you each day/week/month that passes. I don't want you to get older and more independent - because it means that I'll be going back to work and unable to spend as much time with you, and it means that maybe you won't need me as much anymore. On the other hand, I love seeing you grow and learn new things every day. Watching my smart, beautiful girl fills me with such pride!

You can't (or won't) crawl yet, but you do scoot around on your bum and can pull yourself up to a standing position. Standing still at 3 teeth (1 top, 2 bottom), but there are THREE top teeth on the immediate horizon. You are eating like a champ and love feeding Bruiser as much as you love feeding yourself! You love to babble and you make all sorts of sounds, and you like to wave, clap and give lovely wet kisses! Nothing beats a cuddle and a kiss from you.

Happy 9 months monkey - I can't wait to see what the next 9 months hold!

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 7 Months 3 Weeks Old

Dear Mercedes,

In the past few weeks you have changed SO much! You now have THREE teeth and the fourth is going to cut through any day now! You can pull yourself up to your knees and are so close to getting all the way on to your feet. Still no crawling, but you can scoot forward on your bum (slowly, but surely!) You love 'talking' to us all the time and you absolutely love going out with Mommy, especially to see all of your little friends. You are eating all sorts of food now and throw a little temper tantrum if I don't share with you or try to take something away from you. You definitely love your food, just like Mommy and Daddy!

But probably the most exciting change, at least for me anyway, is that you have FINALLY realized that Mommy is not the only one who can take care of you. Of course, I'm still number one, but I can now leave you alone with Daddy with NO tears, and sometimes you'll even let other people hold you without crying! This is very exciting - both because maybe it means that Daddy and I can get out a little more (not that we don't love being with you of course). But it also means that the other people who love you to pieces (Bubie, Zaidie, Auntie Kimmy, Thea Melissa) can FINALLY spend some more quality time with you. Everyone is happy. My little girl is growing up so fast!

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 7 Months Old

Dear Mercedes,

Sorry I can't write as often, but you keep me WAY too busy! In fact, right now you are trying to grab the pen out of my hand! Nothing is safe from your grabby hands anymore. You are seven months old now and are totally your own little personality. No crawling yet, although you are working on both that and pulling yourself up to a standing position. On your 7 month birthday you cut your first tooth and the second one is not far behind!

You are starting to eat some real food now, but you REFUSE to let me feed you. So you'll feed yourself purees (very, very, very messily!) or we give you chunks of stuff to play with and chew on. Toast and cream cheese is a big hit!

Love,

Mommy