Our sweet baby girl is one year old. Life with her has been a beautiful journey. I can't remember a time without her nor would I want to. She is happy and funny. She gives the best hugs. Her smile (full of half-in baby teeth) lights up a room. She is Hope. If ever it could be incarnate it is her and she is it.

Hope has shown me beautiful new facets of my husband and our older daughter. Aaron is even more confident as a second time dad. Let's be honest, that's extremely attractive to this wifey. I get a front row seat to him being compassionate, tender-hearted, and silly with our littlest.

Mercy has become both independent and a care-giver. She doesn't hesitate for a chance to play with her (teeny-tiny-not-baby-safe) toys alone for a bit. But she in the same moment willingly shares her (appropriate-sized-baby-safe) toys with little sister. And most notably saves baby sister from eating random food off the floor or putting random toys in the toilet. Older sibling for the win!

I wish I could bottle this time up. We all know it moves (too) fast. The best I can do is to be present.

When I think about Hope, the beginning of her sweet life and her future, I think of all the things I want her to know. The things I hope to teach her. No pun intended. I often fall back on the things I pray for her...

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them us, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good...

Help us to remember that we are all your children, and so to love and nurture Hope, the she may attain to the full stature intended for her....

Turn our hearts toward our children and the hearts of our children to us, and so enkindle fervent love among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another...

May you always know God is the love of your mother's kiss, and the warm, strong hug of your daddy's arms.

You are loved sweet girl. Happy Birthday!