Baby girl! 
You are ONE!
I just need to let that sink in for a second.
I've been reflecting on this last year over the past week. I actually cried the other night as I was sorting through your monthly pictures. I saw your little, newborn, puffy face transform month after month.
When did 365 days pass? How have that many hours, days, weeks and months gone by in a flash? You were once this tiny person growing in my tummy and you have turned into this still-so-tiny, beautiful bundle of your daddy. HA! You couldn't look more like him! I skimmed the monthly pictures and noticed that the one constant in them all is your joy. Someone once told me that happiness is an emotion that comes and goes but joy comes from the Lord. I love that. Girlfriend! You can be incredibly unhappy, earning yourself the name "Screaming Hawk" but joy radiates from your teeny tiny body every single day. I think of everything you mean to your daddy and me. You were new life in the face of death. You were joy in the midst of grief and sadness. What a blessing you have been to us! What was once a distant thought in our minds turned into this laughing, clapping, toddling Little Love and my life is better because of you.
You are sensitive, determined, loving, and a big time Daddy's girl. Your independent, feisty spirit leads me to believe that nothing will stand in your way. Ever. You have watched your sister do so much from day one. I see you internalize it all and then do it yourself. I mean, who crawls at 5 months old?! You do! You have to keep up with sissy after all! Speaking of your sister, one day, you're going to look back and read this so I want you to know that the love you have for each other is endearing. I watch the two of you giggle and play with so much joy in your little hearts that I feel like my own heart will burst. Kylee adores you. She loves to make you laugh and you love to let her. You enjoy playing in her bed before bedtime and while I get her dressed for school in the mornings. She loves to tickle you and read you stories. You love to hide together in the pillows on the couch and squeal when I finally find the two of you buried under a mountain of them. A favorite game y'all play is tag. She has quite an unfair advantage being able to run while you can barely toddle around, so I hold you out like you're flying and together we chase her down. I've never heard two girls squeal with laughter the way you two do. She's your built in best friend and has loved you long before you met her.
The relationship you have with your daddy absolutely melts my heart. You love him with reckless abandon and I have seen a whole different side to him because of you. You practically race to the door the moment the garage door swings open because that man you love so much is finally home from work, ready to sweep you up and kiss your little cheeks. God certainly knew what he was doing when he blessed us with not one but two girls. Daddy is outnumbered big time, but with you around, I know he doesn't mind the least bit. I love how you love your daddy so! But I love, even more, the way he loves you.
Tonight, I rocked you, holding you tight against my chest while you wrestled around. You have never liked to be rocked to sleep, but I did it anyways knowing that I would be waking up to a one year old. As I rocked and you tossed, I said a little prayer thanking God above for the person he wove together. This Little Joy Baby that has petite little features, big, beautiful eyes, and thick, curly blonde hair. This Little Love who makes me wonder what she's thinking when a certain grin with a hint of mischief crawls across her face. This same Little Love who cries at the sound of a pen click or when I raise my voice at our dog for who-knows-what. He perfectly made you. Just as you are. Just as you are supposed to be. His plan for your life is unfolding right in front of us and while we don't know what that is yet, I am thrilled that he picked me to be your mommy. I couldn't think of a sweeter role to play in your life.
I love you, Little Love! Life is so much sweeter with you in it!
Happy, happy birthday!