To Annabelle on her first birthday:

I have been thinking about you turning 1 for a few weeks now and what I would write. I wish I would have written to you every month but unless I was supermom that was not going to happen. I can't remember so much about your first few months. Being a mom was so much harder than I ever imagined. But you are more incredible than I imagined as well. I don't remember you being a helpless little baby. It seems to me you have always been this bright, aware and energetic being. It seems so long ago that you were born and at the same time your first year has gone so fast. I don't know why it makes me a little sad that you are already 1. Maybe I can't imagine you being better or funnier or cuter than you are now. But everyday you do something new that makes me look forward to the next.

You still use you middle finger to point with and to touch everyones nose with. You hate sleeping and I am lucky if I can get you to nap during the day for an hour. You love an audience and will do all of your tricks when watched. You like to kiss animals in books, but not mamma and pappa so much. (I am working on this) You are curious about everything and you LOVE to go out. It does not matter where as long as there are things to look at. You turn heads wherever we go. People want to touch you and hold you. You have had countless pictures taken of you by people we meet in the streets, airports and malls. You are a superstar. We have already flown with you to 3 different countries (Sweden, China, USA) and are about to take you to your 4th (Vietnam). You are a great traveler,only you don't like to sleep because there is so much going on in airplanes. So it can be tough on us. You love to swim. You laugh so hard when I play the breakfast taco game that Aunt Kelsey made up. You can say mamma, pappa, wow and bye bye. You said "Mormor" today for the first time when we were on Skype with her. You are only days away from walking. And are sometimes too smart for you (and our) own good. It is so hard to describe in words how funny and incredible you really are. You have to be seen to be believed.

I look at you everyday and can't believe how lucky and proud I am to be your mamma. I can't believe I get to tell people you are MY daughter.