Jen here with a special First Year post written for one extraordinary person.

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On January 5^th of this year, so many incredible transformations took place before my eyes.  After about an hour of your amazing coaching and cheering me on, the doctor and nurses introduced us to the sweetest little baby we had been waiting so long to meet – our daughter.  And in that very moment, we were forever changed.  I became a mother, you became a father…a new journey began.

Those next two days in the hospital were simply magical.  I loved holding our daughter, just looking at her, nursing her, and getting to know her.  But I secretly was also watching you.  I loved the little smile that warmed your face as our baby wrapped her tiny hand around your ring finger.  I loved watching you master how to swaddle our girl into a cute little burrito, something only you could do!  I loved watching the excitement on your face as you chatted with your family over the phone, already bragging about your little girl.  Whether she was awake or asleep, I watched you watch over her every breath, sigh, hiccup and yawn.  I saw so much love wash quietly over you, and just as I fell in love with our girl over and over again, I also fell repeatedly in love with you.

The hospital sent us home, and we were on our own with this new thing called parenthood!  During those first few weeks, you took such good care of your new little family – you cooked us three healthy, delicious meals a day.  You made sure I got my rest.  You cleaned the house often, and showed time and time again in so many ways how much you wanted only the best for your girls.  You gave our family the perfect start to our new life together.

Over the next 5 months, we watched our little baby grow all too quickly into a beautiful little girl with an already big personality.  We cheered her on as she discovered so many things before our eyes, like how to grasp something with her hand or how to roll over.  We shared so many babble conversations with her, excitedly trying to match her sounds and tones.  We took many-a turn rocking, bouncing, or dancing her to sleep to her favorite Maroon 5 music video, sometimes needing to switch often to give our arms a break.  (I still don’t know why she picked that song to like, but who cares – it works when we need it!) We melted with her first smile, her first giggle, her first belly laugh.  We laughed together over her vibrant facial expressions, many of which we captured with our cameras.  And we shared hearty laughs and sentimental tears during the times we went back through our images and took a bittersweet trip down memory lane.

During our trips down memory lane and often throughout every day, I thank my lucky stars for you, Jason.  I am so grateful to have such an amazing husband at my side through this incredible journey, and I am even more grateful that Logan has you for a father.  I look at you, Jason, and I see how deeply you love our daughter and me, I see how much you sacrifice to give our family the best, and I appreciate all that you do and all that you are.

I know it’s a few days early, but happy 1^st Father’s Day, Jason!  You are the best daddy, and Logan and I love you so very, very much.  xo

Friends, I look forward to meeting you here next Monday when I test out Me Ra’s photo recipe for capturing a few of Logan’s unforgettable details!

First Year Cheers!

Jen