To My Sweet Antonia on Your First Birthday

Dearest Antonia,

We made it, baby. Today you are one years old and your dad and I (along with our village) have nurtured and loved you 24/7 for 365 days. There is so much I want to say to you on your first birthday but I’ll start with the most basic: thank you. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a mom. But I never imagined it’d be this good. Not until I held your tiny warm body against mine and breathed in your sweet Toni smell did I truly understand what being YOUR mom meant. And I am so darn grateful for it all.

This year has been a doozy. From navigating a global pandemic to a literal shift in who I was as a person, becoming your mom has thrown me for a loop. But it’s also the best thing that’s ever happened to me. While becoming a parent is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done, having you as my daughter is the most beautiful thing. You bring a type of joy to my life that I never knew existed. Your personality is so special and your smile is unlike any other – it truly lights up the room. In you, I have found healing, peace, confidence, patience, and a love that I could never even imagine. You, my darling girl, make every one of my days brighter.

A few of my favorite things about you are:
That you love people!
You’re a ferocious eater and have tried nearly every cuisine and (mostly) love it all!
You love your mama and being your safe space is my most cherished role!
You love your animals! Waffles and Mylo make you so happy all the time!
You love learning and are quick to repeat, mimic, and re-enact what you see/hear!
You’re very in tune with ALL emotions – it’s such a wonderful trait!

My only hope for you, as your mother, is that you know how loved you are. In every single way and no matter what you do (or don’t do), I love you. Your dad loves you. Your family loves you. You are our Toni girl and you mean so much to us.

On to year two, my love! I can’t wait to see what’s next for us.

Love always,
Mama