Happy Birthday, Baby Kate!!

This week was Katherine’s first birthday. Words can not express the amount of emotion that is in my heart. It has been a full year. It has been full of many hard times, many tears, and many changes, but through it all my little “Baby Kate” has been a ray of sunshine in my life. She is a beautiful little girl and she seems to be growing over night. The Lord has truly blessed us with the privilege to raise her and love her as our own.

Katherine,

You are so beautiful. Your smile lights up your entire face. Your eyes sparkle with laughter and joy. While the first few months and even into the later ones of your first year were marked with pain and discomfort for you, you continued to smile and bring joy to our family. Now that you are feeling better, you are sleeping well and growing quickly. There are so many things about you that amaze me. You love apples. They are one of your favorite foods, along with potatoes and crackers. You will throw your head back and laugh the most contagious laugh I have ever heard. You can shake your head “no” and “yes”. You are learning to sign now also. You are working in “milk” and “drink” and “all done” and “eat”. You are getting better at them everyday. I love to watch you grow and explore. While you are not walking yet, you move around the house with the greatest of ease. In an effort to keep up with your older siblings you have learned to crawl very quickly. It is so neat to see the way that they can make you smile and laugh better than anyone else. You love them so much and they love you too! The bond that you all share is so evident and I love to see it growing everyday. I love you, Katherine Elizabeth. May God bless your life and may you choose to serve Him in all that you do.

Mommy

(I had a beautiful video of her life made but, I can’t seem to upload it here so these pictures will have to suffice.)