Happy Family Day, sweet girl! How has it only been one year since we held you for the very first time? That day seems so very long ago. It's hard to imagine what life was like before you entered it. What a blessing you have been!
On April 30th 2018, you were first placed in our arms! I remember that day so clearly. I was hurrying around our Plenitud Apartment, packing your dress and getting together everyone else's outfits for when we'd meet you at FANA later that morning. But then the phone rang with unexpected news. You were in the hospital. My heart sank and eyes welled up with tears as I heard Maria Teresa Maldonado explain that you had become sick with a respiratory infection. We would not be going to FANA to bring you back to the apartment with us. Instead, we would be going to Simon Bolivar Hospital to meet you for the very first time.
What an emotional day that was! The joy in meeting you, our daughter, whose photo we had been staring at for months. The sorrow in seeing you on oxygen with an IV in your neck. And the heart break in leaving you at the hospital day after day instead of bringing you back with us.
After 12 loooong days, you were finally forever in our arms as we left the Hospital with our little bundle wrapped in blankets with oxygen tank in tow.
Since then you have flourished. You are now a completely healthy toddler full of energy and spunk. In the past year, you have mastered sitting, then crawling, standing, walking, running and talking! There is nothing stopping you!
Although the smallest of the Slominski crew, you are definitely the loudest. Whether excited or angry, your screeches permeate throughout our house. You have your big brothers wrapped around your finger, especially Cole. He would do anything just to make you happy. If you need help, Cole's your go-to guy. He's always opening bags of goodies for you or giving you the food right out of his hand. He'd rather go without than see his baby sis upset.
Your vocabulary is bursting at the seams. You are learning new words daily. You know the names of all your siblings, although "Rose" is your most often said word. Some of your cutest phrases are "ah-ont-some" (aka, I want some) mentioned anytime someone is eating something that you "ont" and "ah-see" (aka, I see) uttered whenever you want to be picked up to take a closer look at something. Every cat (and even dog!) is called "Eli". Every bird is a "duck".
You eagerly ask to go "side" (aka outside). You love being outside in the warmer weather, walking up and down and up and down the curb on the driveway, and scooching all the way down our hill on your bum.
You are a very social little one (you must get that from your sister - you sure do love copying everything she does!) You'll walk up to anyone and start a conversation by first saying "Rose" followed by lots of baby gibberish. And if anyone is eating something that looks tasty, you won't hesitate to go right up to them and state with authority, "ah-ont-some" (I want some).
Your "tete" (the Spanish word for bottle) is your comfort item. You don't suck your fingers anymore or have a lovely like your siblings, but you sure do love your tete. When you get hurt, first you ask for "mama" and next for "tete", not to drink it, just to hold it in your arms. I know you are getting too old for a bottle, but with becoming a big sister soon and all the changes surrounding such a big event, there was no way I'd take away your tete just yet.
You love digging in every drawer you can open and pulling out whatever items you can find. My previously organized drawers are quite the mess with your curiosity on the loose. I'll find you carrying around all sorts of items, but your favorites are containers and their lids. You love opening and shutting them over and over.
Wearing any shoes that are not yours is another favorite. You see a shoe and squeal, "SHOE!" You love putting on the oversized shoes and shuffling throughout the house with the shoes flopping around on your feet.
You have the most irresistible, squish-able sweet cheeks (both sets are equally hard not to pinch!) Those adorable cheeks of yours make me smile with delight. What's cuter than chubby baby cheeks - nothing!
You love pictures, especially photos of our family. You have your very own photo book and will flip through the pages and happily shout out the names of each person you see. You even know the name of your new little sister Aria.
You have a head full of wild curls! They simply will not be tamed! They look amazing after every bath but every morning you wake up with frizzed out hair just like Bozo the Clown.
You bring so much joy and laughter to our family. I couldn't imagine life without you. We are so blessed to be able to spend our days soaking up our little ray of sunshine. We love you Kate! Happy 1st Family Day!
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