Today, you turn one

Today, beautiful Cora, you turn one. It is hard to believe that it was one whole year ago, today, that I was holding you in my arms for the first time. And yet, it feels like you have been a part of our family forever. This past year has flown by & you have grown and changed so much. Packed into your little tiny body is quite a personality. You are a little bit spunky, a little bit sweet, and a little bit cuddly, with an independent streak a mile wide. You are a joy to have in our family. You have added so much love and happiness with your presence. Your sisters alternate between adoring you and being confounded by you, and you just continue on, doing your own thing the whole time. They call you "my baby" and are very possessive of you, and you love the attention that they give you (most of the time).

I am proud to say that we successfully went one whole year breastfeeding! We did it!!! After the first couple of days in the hospital where we figured out the basics, I never really had any doubts that we could do it. We stuck to our guns & after a few months the pain went away and it became our special bonding time, just you and me. I think that we both sincerely enjoy it now, and we will miss it when it is gone. At this point I have no plans of weaning you & you are not showing any interest in letting it go. So we will continue on for awhile longer. My goal was making it until your first birthday, now anything more is just gravy. :)

You are a beautiful girl inside and out. I have loving having you in our family, enjoyed watching you grow from newborn to baby to toddler, and am looking forward to seeing you continue to grow and thrive. You are our precious baby, our pretty Bella. <3





Most babies love cakes, but Cora was afraid is was going to get her. She kept circling around and around, never really getting close despite our encouragement and even giving her a taste of the frosting off of the cake. Oh well, it still made for some cute, (but not as messy as we hoped for) pictures. My silly Bellarina!