My sweet baby turns one tomorrow. HOW?! Everyone told me it goes fast, but I didn’t realize it would be that fast. I’ve been writing this post off and on for the past few weeks but I just can’t seem to put this into words. I cannot put the love, amazement, and joy that I feel for my sweet girl into words.

This past year has been one of my greatest yet; Isla joining our family was absolutely amazing. March 22nd will always be a special day to me. It was the first day of the rest of my life. I can remember very vividly the moment she was born and the midwife said, “It’s a…” and Evan gasped, “A GIRL?!” I repeated “a girl?!” over and over and over and over and over again. I couldn’t believe she was a girl! My whole pregnancy I felt like the baby was a boy. All the old wives tales pointed to boy, all the typical symptoms pointed to boy, I dreamed about a boy – nothing ever pointed to a girl, but I was SO excited! I just stared at her sweet face with her big juicy swollen lips and could feel my heart bouncing out of my chest. I really can’t say that it felt real, that she was really my baby I get to keep forever, until a few months in. It was just so surreal that we created this little human. That stands true to this day. I look at her in just amazement that she is part of me, that I made her, that she exists because of me. #MINDBLOWN

Having Isla opened my life and mind open to some things I wasn’t consciously aware of. It gave me a new appreciation for parts of my life I was overlooking. I wanted to list a few of them, because it’s a good reminder for myself!

• It gave me a new appreciation for my mom and dad. I am currently crying writing this because I finally understand how much my parents love me & all the things they did for me that I didn’t even know about. Isla being born was more than just a new addition to my life, it was a new clarity to what my life has been up to this point, and man am I thankful for my parents. Hi mom + dad – thank you, love you! 
• Isla flew on officially 35 flights in her first year of life. THIRTY FIVE!! Holy moly. Traveling with a tiny infant by yourself is a piece of cake compared to traveling with a mobile 11 month old….yikes! 😉 (Want a few tips for traveling with a baby? I wrote a blog post on that too – find that here!) But what traveling taught me was to ask for help, lots of help. Whether it was during my actual flights or layovers, or to having my mom or mother-in-law watch Isla while I nap. It taught me traveling is HARD alone & no-one expected me to do it perfectly.
• I definitely have a new appreciation for a full nights rest and being able to eat something without having to share. I also have a new appreciation for how effective “If you’re happy and you know it” can be and how one little 25 pound human can totally change your life for the better.

A few things I wish brand-new-mom Mary knew…

1. It is okay to cry at nothing. It is okay to cry and worry over something as little as her shoes…the hormones will pass!
2. There will be highs and lows of every day. Reflect on the highs and remember the one thing you did well in the day…even if that is just showering!
3. No matter what, your baby girl will wake up and love you.
4. Get on that sleep training earlier 😉 
5. Then get help with your sleep!!!
6. Take more photos + videos. The littlest moments are the ones I wish I could bottle up and keep forever. Photos and videos can do that for me!
7. Remember to find time for yourself every day
8. Someday soon, she will smile back at you. Someday soon, she will hug you. Someday soon, she will blow you a kiss. Cherish her right now because her someday is coming sooner than you think. 

One year ago I anxiously awaited the arrival of our baby. In those moments I couldn’t imagine it being a year later. I could not imagine myself today. I am so thankful for every sleepless night, milestone, trial and error, flight, memory, snotty nose, diaper, giggle, conversation, quiet moment, snuggle, book, and every ounce of love that I have experienced since Isla has gotten here.

I sit here writing this with the same moment that I cannot imagine…..Isla growing another year older…but I know when I write about her second year it will be full of adventures. What a first year it has been! I love my little OHMie <3

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