Tessa's First Year

One year ago today, my little Tessa Kate was born.  In some ways it seems like it was just last month that we brought her home from the hospital to meet her sisters.  In other ways, it seems like it's been ten years since she joined the family (1 month with 3 kids in diapers can feel like three years, believe me).  Yes, this has been a year full of the good (Four beautiful little girls in my life!  An easy baby that sleeps and eats well with hardly any crying!  A trip to Hawaii and Las Vegas!), the bad (Three different kids requiring surgery in less than 12 months!  Five months with three kids in diapers!), and the ugly (that broken tailbone situation that required ten months and a chiropractor to heal!  Facing the fact that I had to lose all the pregnancy weight again!  Three bouts of mastitis!).  But we survived.  That alone would be reason enough to celebrate.  But there's more!

Tessa is the last baby I will ever have.  Because of this, I have really savored watching her grow this year.  She is incredibly sweet and oh so adorable.  I feel so blessed that she is part of our family and I don't want to even imagine our lives without her.  I can't believe how much she's changed in these last months:

On her actual day of birth

Month 1

Month 2

Month 3

Month 4

Month 5

Month 6

Month 7

Month 8

Month 9

Month 10

Month 11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TESSA!!!

I can't wait to see what this next year will bring.