Dear Ayla

Today you are one year old.

The past 12 months have been a dizzying mix of spit-up, new discoveries and most of all, smiles. As the months have gone on you have developed a strong but charming personality. Your long eyelashes and ever-present smile melt everyone's hearts, but mine and your mom's most of all.

Just a year ago this morning we were getting ready to head into the hospital. We were nervous about what a new family addition would mean to our lives. If there would be enough attention to go around. Whether we could love anyone as much as Beckett. If girls are as much fun as boys. From the beginning you put our fears at ease. You were a good sleeper and so adorable that it took your brother nearly a year to get all up in your grill about getting more attention. He loves you so much but also needs someone to box around a little bit. Sorry about that.

One year into life you are clearly a force to be reckoned with. You are opinionated and strong-willed, qualities that will serve you well in life if you keep that stunning smile and long eyelashes. You are also inquisitive and playful and quick with a laugh. Our nightly peekaboo routine around the dinner table - ducking out of view behind a flower vase, then shooting back into view and giggling - would give even the most jaded cynic reason to hope. Just in the past few weeks you have started to take steps and say "dada." You are learning the signs for a number of words but your favorite is an all-purpose clap when you
are excited or do something funny. We love the way your hair gets all curly in the back in the summer humidity when we play in the front yard and the way you look like a happy little vampire with only two perfectly placed teeth on the top row.

Ayla, you are a lovely daughter and, along with Beckett, the greatest joy a mom and dad could ever wish for. We enjoy you more and more every day - something that doesn't really seem possible but just happens. We look forward to the years ahead but also kind of want to stop you right about here. Happy first birthday, Ayla. We love you very much.

Love,
Dad

And now a blast from the past: