One. Such a perfect number. One year. 365 days. Eight and a half thousand hours. Half a million minutes. All of them so much more incredible than any before them.
I always knew I would love being a mumma. I knew my love for my bubba would be amazing. What I wasn’t prepared for was how far it has exceeded even my wildest expectations.
I wasn’t prepared for my response to ordinary, every day things – and the extraordinary feelings they bring.
Seeing her face every time she wakes up.
Seeing the delight when I arrive from work to pick her up at the end of the day.
Hearing ‘mumma’ from the back seat of the car only to turn around and see her blowing raspberries at me and giggling.
Seeing her teeny tiny goosebumps when she’s cold.
Watching her respond with delight when we arrive home and she sees the puppies.
Watching her relationships (particularly with her grandma and her aunty and uncle) grow and develop.
Seeing her laugh when she sneezes. Or when I do.
Feeling her crawl up into my lap for a story.
Or snuggle into my chest and shoulder for a cuddle.
Anticipating those huge bubba kisses as she launches herself towards me.
The ache in my heart when I see big fat tears fall from her eyes.
The pride I feel every time she does something new and looks to me for encouragement.
All of these things make my heart threaten to burst right out of my chest with love.
I wasn’t prepared for the overwhelmingness (I may be making up words here!) of it all. Even the times when the road was bumpy, there is no other place I would rather have been.
Happy birthday to my divine daughter, my Poppy Grace.
My Princess P. My Love Bug. My Everything.
bumpyroadtobubba 
Happy birthday to Poppy! And it keeps getting better! I am new to your blog and can’t wait for more.
Thank you so much – Bubba has had a wonderful day + I’m always happy for newcomers to our story 🙂
Happy Birthday Poppy Grace and Congratulations Mummy! What an incredible journey that you have shared so eloquently and so bravery. I feel privileged to have read your words. Would you like to write an article for TheMamaClub to feature linking back to your blog? Much love xx
I would absolutely love to! Thank you so much, I’ll email you 🙂 x
Happy Birthday Poppy Grace. It has been a joy watching you grow! I wish you and mumma a very happy celebration xx
HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPY GRACE!! YAY! Isn’t fascinating how our children bring back the joy of the simple things in life. This is where it really is at in life, those wonderful simple and beautiful moments we take for granted until we are blessed with a little one who opens our eyes once again to the miracles we see everyday but do not recognize until they come int our lives. 🙂
Great Post!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO POPPY GRACE AND TO MUMMA!
The Collies and Chuck 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPY GRACE!!! This is such a great post, it warmed my heart reading all these things (love the one about her in the car blowing raspberries 🙂 ) You are such a wonderful mother and do it all with style and grace— such an inspiration!!!
Happy Birthday sweet lil Bubba! 🙂
-Deanna and the Crew
Happy Birthday. Beautiful blogging. – DogDaz
A momentous day indeed! Happy birthday to Poppy!! And to her wonderful Mum, who is celebrating the day her journey began with the love of her life!
HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY POPPY GRACE 🙂 🙂
Wonderful post!
Happy birthday Bubba! How fortunate you are indeed!
Happy Birthday Poppy Grace! It’s amazing how much love we can have for our children that we didn’t even realize was in us. Loved this post.
Happy Birthday Poppy – you are truly blessed to have such a wonderful Mum!!