6 days! Less than a week and my sweet baby K turns 1-year-old. This has been the longest and shortest year of my life. It seems like just yesterday when Shane and I headed to the hospital to begin the induction process but when I see the pictures of her when she was a few months old and so tiny, it seems like ages ago.

I look back at the past year fondly {excluding the delivery and recovery} . Kaili has been a happy and easy baby for the most part. I have  heard horror stores about  parents who end up dealing with major sleep issues, food issues, bodily issues, sippy cup issues ect. ect. I think we have had it pretty easy and Shane and I will be the first to admit that when things seem difficult, we really have been lucky. Someone told me once that it’s all a trick to get us to have another one, haha.

She has become such the little lady. She is determined and focused and has become quite the copycat. It’s been amazing to watch her go from this

to this.

I am really looking forward to what the next year brings. I am excited to start our trips to the beach, Sea World and the Zoo. I can’t wait to watch her take it all in.

Someone asked me if parenthood was everything I thought it would be. Yes, yes it is. I was very well prepared to have a baby and I haven’t been surprised by much. But thinking about this more over the past few days, there are a few things I wish I knew before having Kaili.

• I really really wish someone would have told me I could have insisted on a c-section any time during the 36 hours of labor instead of having to wait until it became an emergency.
• That finding normal moms to be friends with may prove to be impossible.
• How many hours I would spend online researching different ailments and the amount of time I will spend worrying about her.
• That I would still be numb at both incision sites and have sporadic pain when working out a year later.
• How amazing it is to be able to stay home with her and get to watch her grow and learn in every way.

Happy almost birthday my little love, we are going to do it up big for you!