Dear 1-year-old daugter,

Today you’re one. It still feels like we were just in the hospital hearing you cry for the first time and seeing your beautiful little brown eyes look up at us in wonder. One of the nurses nicknamed you little peanut because of how tiny you seemed. I remember your daddy’s eyes filled with tears as he held you and kept telling me how cute you were. Or the moment we brought you home in your little baby Yoda blanket and our family waited eagerly to hold you. Although I have loved every milestone my favorite has been hearing you call me mama. I love when you whisper mama in the middle of the night after waking up crying and you nuzzle your little head into my neck. Or as your auntie calls it, your koala bear hugs. I love how excited you get over the smallest things. How playing with a kitchen wooden spoon brings you as much joy as playing with the dogs. I hope you always find joy in the smallest of things. I hope you always want to koala bear hug us even when you’re 38 and have your own little cubs to hug. I hope you always know you can call your mama even in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep. Because no matter where life takes you, your mama I will always be.