Our sweet little girl turned 1 year old on June 20. Man, did this year every go by so quickly?!

After about 10.5 hours of non-progressing labor, Linden Paige entered in to the world via C-Section on a Friday night at 6:54 p.m. at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida…weighing 8 pounds 1 oz. and measuring 21 in. long. Our labor and delivery nurses were excellent and my OB was the attending that night at the hospital, so Dr. S delivered Linden. It was most certinaly love at first sight. Hearing her cry for the first time was one of the best sounds I had ever heard in my life!

My first time holding Linden in the OR/OB recovery room

Linden wearing the “Jesus Loves Me” braclet from Grandma & Grandpa E.

Linden just home from the hospital

Since her birthday fell on a Saturday this year, we celebrated with a Ladybug themed birthday bash at the park on her actual birthday. Many family members traveled from out of state to help make our sweet girl’s day even more special! Uncle Daniel, Grandma Nagel & Grandpa John, Oma, Great-Great Uncle Eddie, Aunt Erin, GG, Pop-Paw & Grandma Shell! Nonnie and Pop-Pop also drove over from Boulder for the festivities. What a blessed little girl to have so many people that love her and were able to travel!

The weather was a little sketchy most of the day, mostly wind, so many of my cute little decorations had to stay in the bag, oh well! I was just so relieved that the rain held off and everyone was able to have fun eating and playing in the park.

Linden was so excited to see so many familiar faces and she walked around telling people “hi” and waving. She def. had a great time swinging, running around, going down the slide, riding the ladybug and getting to demolish her cupcake!

After the party was over we went back to the house to open presents – everyone was so generous and we have a little stash of toys put away to pull out throughout the year.

Dear Linden,

Happy 1st Birthday! Your Daddy and I love you so much and have been so blessed to have you in our family this past year – our hearts are truly full from the love and joy that you have brought to us.

I pray for you every night when I put you to bed. The themes that I pray over you daily include:

• That you would come to know Jesus as your Savior at a young age
• That you would be faithful and obedient to walk with the Lord throughout all of your days
• For your worth and image to be found in Jesus alone
• For your purity
• For you to see and love others as Jesus does
• For God to be preparing a loving and godly husband for you

It has been a joy to watch your personality and character develop already. You started saying “hi” to people and waving when you were about eight months old – your friendliness has put smiles on many peoples faces and has blessed them.

Your disposition this first year has been very easy going, joyful and playful. I think we have been spoiled by having such an easy baby for our first (maybe only!) child. You began sleeping through the night consistnetly when you were just 3 weeks old and you have been a good eater from the start.

You have consistently been in the 90-95th percentile for your height in 50-60th percentile for your weight. At your 1 year appointment you were 23 pounds, 2 ounces (85th percentile), were 30.25 inches tall (90th percentile) and your head size is in the 40th percentile. Dr. D. noted that your verbal and fine motor skills are that of an 18 mo. old and encouraged Mommy & Daddy to start discipling you, because you understand more than what we think you do! You are certinaly not naughty (yet!), but you have begun to push a few limits with your mobility and reach. You started walking at 10 months and were running by 11 months!

You love books! Your favorite book, by far, is 10 Little Ladybugs. We read it almost daily…it was the inspiration for your 1st Birthday party

Your favorite activity is swimming! We first took you when you were almost 3 months old and we have been going every Saturday to our rec center since you were 6 months old. You have already outgrown 3 swimsuits – phew! You like to splash, kick and flirt with the life guards. You also always make a friend when we are at the pool, who is usually about 6-9 years old. I pray that you continue to make friends easily and minister to the people God brings along your path.

To date you say momma, da-da, me, duck, hi, baby. You also like to put together jibberish phrases. Daddy and I enjoy making up what we think you are saying, because you always sound very passionate when you do this!

We can’t wait to see what this next year holds and I will always hide our precious memories from your first year in my heart.

Much love,

Mommy & Daddy