Dear Mabel.

Happy 1st Birthday Little Red! 

My life has changed more in the past year that in any other year of my life. I am so blessed to have you with me to help me along the ride and bring sweet magic to our family. I do love you so. You seem to have decided that age one is old enough to be big and it is breaking my heart a little bit even though it is so fun to watch you play. You climb everything now including onto the couch and beds. You also have started saying your animal sounds (Dog, Cat, Tiger and Wolf) and holding up your arms when you want to be held just melting my momma heart. The most bittersweet change that age one has brought with it is the lessening desire for you to nurse. You are weaning yourself and I don't know that I am quite ready to give up that special bond. Although, less nursing means you are sleeping way better thankfully. Just stop growing up so fast already. I love you to the starts sweet Mabs! 

Love, 

Momma

^This is the newest face you make when I ask you to smile. Also, a special thanks to Steve and Micah for gifting little Mabel her Pony that she loves so much!

Dear Mabel.

Little Red,
The 11 months you have blessed our lives so far have been the fastest and craziest months of my life. You are trying so hard to keep up with your sisters. You walk along all the furniture, stand and climb everything. This month you cut your bottom two teeth and decided while doing so that you wanted a binky. There was one left in the toy bucket that you discarded as an infant and now wont let go of. You are starting to self ween and after all the grief nursing has given me I am really sad about stopping. Baby food is a thing of the past and you like to eat everything. Blueberries are by far your favorite. You have quite the little vocabulary for one so small, saying "Dada" "Mama" "Dah" (Dog) and "Nana" (Eat). You hold a very special place in my heart my sweet angel girl.
Love you to the stars,
Mama

Dear Mabel.

Happy 10 months sweet Red. In the last month you grew your first tooth, grew enough hair to hold a barrette, grew a few more lovable rolls and grew a feisty little personality. You are still a sweet little angel baby but you have discovered that your tiny set of lungs can make a screech that i'm convinced could break glass. You love to eat "real" food, especially blueberries and french fries. And thankfully you have mastered the sippy and a straw so you nurse less during the day. We started sleep training and it has been going fabulously for naps but we are still working on getting a full nights sleep. You are a fish and love going to the pool and crawling around in the tub with your sisters. You are trying hard to keep up with them and are pulling yourself up to walk along furniture allowing you much more access to their toys. I can't believe it is time for me to start thinking about your 1st birthday party. I love you to the stars Mabs!
XOXO Momma

Dear Mabel.

Happy 9 months big girl! I think you are officially a red head. And you can't seem to stay out of trouble for one minute if you are left on your own. The bathroom and the floor lamp seem to draw you in every time I set you down. You have mastered the speed crawl and have permanently rashy/dirty knees because of it. You have also learned to pull yourself up to stand but aren't super sturdy yet, probably due to the fact that you prefer to stand on tip toes. Sleep is still a battle we are fighting but you are nursing faster and for less time each day so it's not too bad to nurse you all night since I get the extra love. You love to watch dogs, wave, clap and blow raspberries. You still hate bottles, binkies, diaper changes and sleep. You also started this funny new move we call the mermaid. When you are held under your arms you point your toes and flip your legs back and forth like a mermaid. It is adorable and a crowd pleaser every time. Mabel, you are still my little angel baby and I am continuously reminded of how much I needed you in my life and what I was missing before your journey to earth. I love you to the stars little Red!
Love, Momma

Dear Mabel.

My dearest Mabs,

I am sorry I missed last months letter. Life has been flying by and I can't seem to catch up. So, happy seven and eight months little one! You continue to bring sunshine to our family on a daily basis. Seven months brought new adventure because are officially on the move. It didn't take long after you learned to sit to decide it wasn't exciting enough and you took off crawling a few weeks ago. You are fast. And for some strange reason are attracted to the tightest spots and get your self wedged between furniture over. and over. and over. You are still as stubborn as I am and refuse a bottle so you are always by my side. Thankfully you started to sleep better since we moved you into the basement room with Nora. I think you like the cooler temperature down there. You have acquired a love for food but only if I let you pick it up and feed yourself...like I said, stubborn. But I love you to the stars sweet one. Forever.

Love,

Momma

Picture taken by the talented Samantha Kelly.

Dear Mabel.

Happy Half-Birthday. Sorry you had to celebrate by getting a cold and an ear infection. Even though you are sick you are a still the sweetest baby to ever live. These past six months have been the fastest of my life. I know that so much will change in the next six months and it makes me excited and terrified. You are trying to sit on your own right now and soon you will get teeth, love food, crawl, walk and turn one...and i'll probably cry just like I did at six months. Your blonde hair continues to sprout straight up and you have acquired quite the impressive leg chunk, weighing in at almost 17 lbs. (Still smaller that your sisters at 6 months if you can believe it). I love you to the stars sweet Maybe Baby! 

Love you forever,

Momma

Dear Mabel.

Dearest Mabs,
You outgrew newborn-hood and grew into a little baby this month. At five months you already seem wise beyond your years (er months). You roll over every time anyone lays you down but get ticked as soon as you are on your tummy. Silly girl. You escape your swaddle every night to get your hand out to suck your thumb. And as hard as I try you still refuse a bottle. You stopped sleeping through the night after you got your four month shots and a pretty nasty cold. Hopefully before we hit the six month mark we will be back on track. You still smile all day and even when you were sick you were happy. Luckily for me you love to be in the Solly Baby wrap so when you are fussy and want to be held all I have to do it strap you to my chest and you are happy as a clam. Mabel you have such a sweet personality. Your Daddy and I can't wait to see if you are a red head or if you really will only have one dimple when you smile. I am still amazed at you my little miracle. Happy five months. I love you to the stars.
Love,
Momma

Dear Mabel.

Sweetest Mabel,

You are my darling. Watching you learn so much this past month has been a joy. I love your one dimple and fuzzy hair and listening to you laugh at your sisters. I wish you wouldn't blow out of every. single. diaper. But that's OK because you have come to love bath time. I can't wait to explore the future with you little one. Love you to the stars!

Kisses,

Mommy

Dear Mabel.

Sweet Maymo,
Three months suits you well. You smile at everyone, baby talk and love to play with your Ikea hanging toy. You are still a great sleeper and champion eater. We are all still unsure of where you got your cute looks since you look so different from the rest of the family but you fit in just perfect. I love watching you grow and thank you for being so tolerant of your crazy older sisters. Love you to the stars sweet thing.
~Momma

Dear Mabel.

My little Maybe Baby,
You are still an angel. I feel like you have been a part of me and our family for much longer than these two short months. Thank you for sleeping through the night. Thank you for being a good eater. Thank you for only fussing when you are poopy. Thank you for making me a better mommy. I love you to the stars and back!
Love,
Momma

Dear Mabel.

Sweet Mabel, 

My little peanut angel baby, 

This first month has flown by. You have taught me to believe in miracles.

I love you to the stars!

Love, Momma

Picture taken by the talented Christine Olson.