A letter to Sophia

Dear Sophia,

Just a year ago, I met you for the first time but sometimes I feel like I've known you my whole life.

I worried often before you were born about having all the answers when it came to caring for you. But from the moment I first held you I felt instantly calmed that I would be good at this. When they put you on my chest after cleaning and dressing you, you were of course crying.

I talked to you softly. "Don't cry my Sophia, mommy's here." After some time of hearing me talk you calmed down and looked at me so sweetly. The way you looked at me was so comforting and reassured me that I would be good at this.

Every day I give it my all to be a great mom to you, and I always will. To you I am perfect just like you are perfect to me. Whether I'm dancing, singing, reading or making up silly games you enjoy all of it.

There's so much Daddy and I have enjoyed over this first year with you.

We loved staring at you as you slept so peacefully in the bassinet those first days you spent next to our bed. We were in awe of you and the fact that you are ours. We still can't believe how very lucky we are to have such a beautiful and perfect daughter.

We've loved those late night feedings even though we were so very, very tired. It was just more time to spend with you.

And as much as we like it that you have always slept so well at night and for naps because it gave us a chance to rest or take time for ourselves, we can't wait until you wake up so we can't hold you and play with you all over again.

Hearing you wake up in the morning is by far one of our favorite parts of the day. There's a rustling of the blankets from you moving all around your crib and after some time you begin talking away with your incredibly cute baby babble. And the moment you first see us enter your room, you always, always greet us with a big smile. It makes our day to have such a happy little girl.

We love taking you on adventures but you seem to love it even more. When we walk out the door with you, you giggle and smile like you know we're going somewhere as a family together.

And we've done lots of things and gone lots of places in just one year.

You've been to the park, the pool, the beach, the aquarium, the zoo, the art museum, the children's museum, the botanical gardens, baseball games (both Mets and Yankees), the pumpkin patch, grandma and grandpa's house, the library, mommy and daddy's work, birthday parties, restaurants, grocery stores and church.

Now that you're 1-year-old, part of me thinks, how did this happen, how did you grow up so fast. Then another part of me thinks you're only 1 and already you know so much.

You're so very smart.

You seem to understand a lot of what we say to you. Especially when we ask you if you want Cheerios or cheese.

And you most definitely know the sounds of a bottle being made. In fact, you know that sound so well that sometimes one of us has to take you into a different room while the other makes the bottle because you tend to freak out a bit.

You say dada, cat, dog (gog), yes, car, good girl, sheep (shap) but not yet mama though I swear you call me Grace sometimes.

It's been an incredibly quick first year with wonderful memories. It is truly bittersweet watching you grow up. Of course we're sad that you are growing out of the baby stage and becoming a toddler. But we are so very excited to see what you will do next, what your interests will be, and what life has in store for you.

Nothing but great things I'm sure.

We love you So.

Love, Mom and Dad