My baby girl had her first birthday on June 14, 2012. It weighed heavy on my mind and heart that my last baby was meeting this milestone. I am firmly holding onto the decision to not have any more babies, I know that I have reached my limit with 4. But it still pulls on my heart knowing that each time we reach a new phase, it will be the last time I see one of my own be in that moment. Maybe it makes me savor it more, maybe that is why I take so many pictures. I can barely remember where my keys/phone/purse/shoes are from one moment to the next, how can I possibly remember the way her wispy hair is longer by her ears, or the funny faces she makes, or the way she sucks her thumb and clutches her favorite blanket to go to sleep? This year has flown by, much faster than it seemed to with her older brothers. I think being the seasoned Mom that I am, I am able to take a step back and enjoy it more than I certainly did with my first, when I was barely making it day to day learning the ropes of motherhood.
And as bittersweet as it has been to celebrate her first birthday, I remembered that day that the 12-18 month stage is one of my favorites! All the language development, and the huge strides they take from baby to toddler. (I won’t spoil it with the thoughts of the tantrums that 18 -24 months tend to bring.)
Here is a collection of monthly pictures of Seraphina from 7 to 12 months old:
