Dear Marley Wren { 12 months }

Dear Marley Wren...

Sweet sweet girl, how has it been 1 year since we laid eyes on you, and held you in our arms for the first time? When Mommy laid you down in your crib last night, she just sat and watched, as you closed your eyes to bed... and just can't believe how FAR we've come. SO many milestones, so much character... you are one awesome little girl, and we are so proud to call you ours.

We celebrate you today... but we also celebrate that WE (Mommy and Daddy) made it to this 1 year milestone with you... 1 year of parenting you... and so many more years to come. You've taught us so many things that your sister hasn't.... and we thank you for that (even though we definitely might have huffed and puffed under our breaths as it was happening)... main thing, being an appreciation for sleep. 

You are such a little free spirit... filled with so much love, and so much energy to explore the world. Recently, you've definitely become quite attached to Mommy... but when you get going on your own, you could play for hours by yourself or with your sister. You are as independent, as independent comes. You are stubborn, especially when you're using your "one track mind"... there's no stopping you. In fact, it's scary at times, but we also know that we have to sit back, and watch you learn and make mistakes of your own, at times (don't worry, we always keep you safe). We call you the modern day, female version of Houdini... you can get out of any buckle... whether you wiggle, or will your sister to help you. Just the other day, Mommy turned around and saw you standing up in your highchair... the latch was as tight as could be when she put you in... but you figured out how to squeeze your legs in order to get up on your own. We laugh at it, and shake our heads at it... we're not quite sure how to handle this new part of you. We think you're just giving us a taste of what's to come, especially in this upcoming year.

You have added more words to your vocabulary, you're nearly walking, and you LOVE playing peek-a-boo. You eat everything we eat, in fact, if we don't give you something that's on our plate, but not on yours... you get angry. You still won't drink out of anything other than a bottle... and that's the stubborn side of you for sure. We try and try, but you always push back any sippy cup (the collection of different kinds that we've tried, is getting large). You sleep through the night (thank you for that)... and have 6 teeth total... 4 up top, 2 below. You love to be outside... in fact, your favorite thing is when we tell you that we're going "bye bye outside"... you smile so big, and attempt to repeat those exact words. The garden is your happy place, just like Mommy... you could eat all the strawberries that she picks in an evening... and have. You just lick your lips and giggle at the fact that you're covered from head to toe in strawberry juice, most of the time. Thankfully, garden duty is before bath time.

You are your sister's biggest fan... and something tells me that you will be, your brother's biggest fan. You are meant to be a big sister... no doubt at all. You are strong, and we know you'll be the one to stand up to him. He'll need that...

Marley, continue loving life sweet girl... continue being you... the one we love so dearly.

We love you,
Daddy, Mommy, Charlotte and baby brother