1 Year, 12 Months. 52 Weeks, 365 Days

Last year I did not make any resolutions. I had 3 goals, nurse my baby for at least 1 year, stick with cloth diapers and keep my baby alive. I think that this is the first year that I accomplished all of my goals! At one point I did give myself a few other goals, I have been working on my business with my sister, I sewed napkins but no quilt and I only managed to blog once a month. I guess I'll try again this year!

As we now have this fast little toddler no longer a helpless infant you start to think about the rest of her life. I guess I feel like if I can keep her alive for a year I can figure all the rest out now. (yeah right!)  SO i can't help but think about my hopes for my sweetie pie. Thinking of the kind of little lady I hope she will be, the kind of people I want in her life the things that I want to shield her from (of course all things bad and awful) the experiences I want her to have. It's hard to be realistic. Knowing that there will be pain, disappointment and lots of mistakes. So what can I hope for Annaka?

So after much thought and consideration here is my as realistic as possible hopes for my sweet little sugar bear.

On the "Polar Express" In Portland Maine. 

Dear Annaka,

You are now a fiesty, talkative, curious little toddler. No longer a tiny little helpless baby, I am thankful for that. I am thankful that you made it through your first year with minor bumps and bruises. I wish that I could shield you from all things "bad" and harmful as you continue to grow and walk through life, getting you through with minor bumps and bruises. Bad experiences as well as good ones shape us to be as we grow, so instead of hoping and wishing for something that is not only impossible but also not ultimately helpful to you here are my hopes and dreams for you my dear sweet girl.

I hope that you grow to have the support of not only your parents but also of other adults in your life. Adults that you can go to when your parents are uncool or would never understand, maybe forgotten what it is like to be your age. Adults that love you and have your best interest at heart, ones that will help you walk through hard choices and big heartaches when your parents just don't make the cut.

I pray that you have a strong foundation in Jesus and your faith. So when you do have to make choices on your own you remember you are never really alone and that you will hear the still small voice of the Lord.

I pray that your father and I always turn to the Lord when it comes to guiding you as you become you. I pray that we are sensitive as well to that still small voice to help you reconize your strengths and help you foster your weaknesses.

I hope that even when you make big, big mistakes you will feel loved and supported and know that there is nothing that you could do that will shock your father and I. Remember there is absoluty nothing you can do to make us love you any less. It is only possible for us to love you more.

I pray that you understand forgiveness. Both in giving and receiving because there will be a lot of it as you grow. Including dear old mom and dad.

I hope for the kind of life experiences that do not break you but only make you stronger and wiser.

I pray for you to have confidence in who you are and who you are becoming. The kind of confidence needed to play alone, eat linch by yourself and make new friends. The kind of confidence that is only found in Jesus.

I pray that you will be blessed with friends, life long, loyal, kind friends. Friends that will love you no matter what, support you and gently correct you. You will gain these kinds of friends by being this kind of friend.

Most of all I pray that you enjoy all that Jesus has in store for you. That even now when you are still so small He will begin to work in your life and plant seeds in your sweet little heart.

I am really crazy about you Annaka. I never understood the blessing children were until I was blessed with my own. Happy Happy Birthday sweet girl.

With all the love I have to give,

Mama