Happy New Year to my Natalka!

Dear Natalka,

You truly are the sunshine of my life.  You have grounded me in a way I wasn't expecting.  You have challenged me and stretched me and motivated me, and for my attempts at trying to keep up, you have rewarded me dearly.

Looking at your sweet face brings a warm feeling with a soft glow to my heart, and a broad smile to my face.  Listening to your antics, your clever ways of using the words you're acquiring, amazes me, as it shows me what unadulterated joyful learning can be.  Cuddling you close to me not only keeps me warm (since daddy set your body temperature to his in the weeks after you were born!), but often brings tears of joy to my eyes.

Three years ago, you were just a speck in daddy's and my imagination.  Two years ago, you were a dream come true, but we were so exhausted, it was hard to truly appreciate you!  A year ago, the fog started to lift, and since then, I've been amazed and thrilled on a daily basis that you are real, you are here, you are mine, and I am the luckiest person in the world to have both you and your daddy in my life.  One of you alone is an incredible gift, but the two of you together is like winning the jackpot.

My hope for you for the new year and beyond is that you cultivate your sense of wonder, keep your sense of humor, stay healthy and resilient as you have been so far, continue to inquire about the world around you, and always remember that you are loved.  You truly are a work of art, made in the image of God.  May you hold on to this knowledge through all the challenges of your long, joyful life.

I love you with everything that I am.  And I pray that I may be the mom you need me to be in order to grow into the woman you are destined to be.

With all my love, hugs, and kisses,

Mamusia

Natalia's December as a One-Year-Old

"Don't look, Minnie!"

"Let's see......

.... how does daddy button his shirt?"

"Woo-hoo!  I'm big enough to ride in the back!"

"Look at me go!"

"Look at all these books I got from Poland!  Dziekuje pra-Babciu i Ciociu Jolko!"

"woo-hoo!!!"

"Check out my hair!"

"They bundled me up like it's cold or something."

Sporting her new boots.

"Guess how I got here?!"

Helping daddy make a wreath.

with her dollies

Met her cousin Danielito.  Eyeballing each other with cousin Jade.

Aren't they adorable?!

"I want some coffee too!"

"That's me on daddy's mug!"

Strong helper.

Pit stop on our way back from the farmer's market.

unseasonably warm

got cold quick

"I'm so delicious I'm in a mixing bowl!"

First bubble bath (courtesy Auntie Dusia)

Shipment of new Polish books from great-grandmother Musti and Aunt Jolka!

Cables are her favorite toy!

But these even light up!

delicious lime

Taking some notes.

Ran into Santa Clause!

"Why you so happy, Santa?"

Wearing her new hoodie and posing with her new train and book from Babcia.

"Read my crown." :)

Merry First Christmas! And Happy New Year! (Photos)

Christmas Eve (Wigilia) with Babcia & Dziadek.

Getting her first Christmas presents!

With her Auntie Klaudia.

Christmas Day (Navidad) with Abuela.

Photo Op with Tia Yoli, Tio Silder, and cousin Jade.

With Jade.  Check out the size of those slippers!

Natalia's Christmas present for us - her contagious smile.

Family Portrait - check out her Santa slippers!

Natalia gesturing, "everything is OK."

Natalia at the altar on New Year's Eve, 2013.

With her Abuela on New Year's Eve, 2013.