Happy Birthday, Chunky Monkey!

Happy Birthday, Chunky Monkey!!!!

Give me an H, give me an A, give me a p-p-y. Give me a b, give me an i, give me a r-t-h, give me a d, give me an a, give me a y.....Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday!

(Thanks to my sweet friend, Molly, my family sings this song on every birthday occasion now!)

It is so hard to believe that my sweet little baby girl is one today. Officially, not until around 3:30 this afternoon, but at this point last year the whole process had begun. Labor was induced, family and great friends were gathering in and the epidural wasn't far from being received. Then the wait began. Boy, girl, would she look the Princess, would he look like his mom, would the baby have red hair and most importantly would he/she be healthy?

I remember them hurrying the doctor to get there so she wouldn't miss it and what seems like the paparazzi without the cameras (a.k.a. doctors and nurses) all rushing in to take their places. Never knew so many "official" people needed to be in the room at once. Daddy had taken his place next to my head and about one push later, the baby was here. Dr. Nichol's said "Call it Dad" and he and I both said "girl?" Immediately, one of the nurses replied "2 weddings dad". Kick him while he is down!

The Princess shortly came into the room and she and her Daddy walked hand in hand down the hall to introduce Katherine Hamilton McCaskill to the rest of the crazy world waiting her arrival! Honestly, the next few weeks...months are a blur. The Monkey was not the best sleeper and now we think it was just that she was always so hungry. She has been more than a complete joy and we are daily in awe of the joy that she brings into our home.

Her sister has been amazingly loving beyond belief. Just last night (364 nights after the monkey's birth) she screamed that she needed help, her sister was messing up her room! Maybe now the 1st year is behind us and the sisterly debates will begin. I am so excited about watching the two of them grow up together. There is no doubt that there are some trying days/nights ahead of us. In the meantime, I am going to savor the moments that she just simply looks at me and laughs. She thinks that we are the funniest people in the whole wide world. She loves us unconditionally and if she is fussy we feed her or put her to bed and she is the happiest baby in the whole wide world (we think).

She is about to take off and walk any day and she loves to suck her thumb, when she is sleepy. She stood unassisted on Christmas day and she is beginning to attempt a wave and reached up for me with her arms extended Sunday at her birthday party. Obviously, she is learning how to already pull at my heart strings. We had her family party on Sunday in Indianola and she must have known it was her day. She was all smiles and had a blast playing with her cousins. Today is the actual day, she and Elvis! Who knows what the rest of the day has in store for her, probably a little more cake before she goes to bed tonight.

I thank the Lord daily for my precious babies. They are truly the most amazing gifts I could ever ask for. Happy Birthday, baby girl and always know that we love you!