My Stella Bells is Four! Navigating Time Flying By (and all the feels that come with it)

Okay, you guys. I'm sitting here, staring at pictures of my sweet Stella, and honestly, I'm a mess. A happy mess, but a mess nonetheless. My angel girl, my first baby, my Stella Bells, just turned FOUR. FOUR! Like, how is that even possible? It feels like just yesterday I was in the hospital, holding her for the very first time. She was born at 2:22 on July 22nd, and I just knew from that moment she was going to be something special. And she is. She truly is.

I'm not gonna lie, this birthday hit different. Maybe it's because she's my oldest, and watching her grow up feels like watching a chapter close and another one begin, all at the same time. It’s this weird mix of pure joy and a little bit of heartache, you know? Like, I'm so incredibly proud of the amazing, spunky, kind, and hilarious little human she's becoming, but also, where did my tiny baby go? I swear, if I could just bottle up those newborn snuggles and toddler giggles, I would. I really would.

The Bittersweet Symphony of Motherhood

This whole motherhood journey is just a constant lesson in bittersweetness, isn't it? Every milestone feels like a celebration and a farewell all at once. First steps? Amazing! But also, no more wobbly crawling. First words? Incredible! But also, no more adorable baby babble. And now, four years old. She's so independent, so articulate, so full of her own ideas. She's a big sister to Ozzy and Cherry, and she takes that job so seriously. She's a little leader, a little artist, a little storyteller. And I just look at her and think, wow, I made that. Tanner and I made that. It's truly humbling.

I remember when I was pregnant with Stella, I was so nervous. I mean, who isn't? I was a first-time mom, and even though I had my amazing mom as an example (she raised me as a single mom, and she's seriously my hero), I still felt so unprepared. But then she arrived, and it was like everything just clicked into place. My heart just exploded. And it's been exploding ever since, over and over again, with each of my girls. But Stella, she was the one who made me a mom. She taught me everything, and she continues to teach me every single day.

Soaking Up Every. Single. Moment.

Everyone tells you, 'it goes by so fast,' and you nod, and you smile, but you don't *really* get it until you're living it. Now, I get it. I get it so much. And it makes me want to just press pause sometimes. I try so hard to be present, to put my phone down, to just look into their eyes and really listen. Even when it's chaotic, even when there are toys everywhere and someone's crying and someone else is asking for a snack for the tenth time, I try to find the joy in it. Because these are the moments. These are the memories we're making.

I mean, just the other day, Stella was telling me a story about a magical unicorn, and her imagination is just boundless. She was so animated, using her hands, making sound effects, and I just sat there, completely captivated. And in that moment, I wasn't thinking about laundry or emails or anything else. I was just there, with her, in her magical world. And those moments, those are the ones I'm trying to collect like little treasures.

Embracing the Chaos (and the Mess)

Let's be real, it's not always magical unicorn stories. Sometimes it's tantrums in the grocery store, or fighting over a toy, or someone spilling milk all over the freshly cleaned floor. And in those moments, I'm not gonna lie, I sometimes find myself hiding in the pantry for a quick minute, just to take a breath. Hahah. Tanner usually finds me, and he's always my rock. He's so good at reminding me to just breathe and that 'we got this.' He's truly the best partner a girl could ask for, and watching him with our girls, especially Stella, just melts my heart. He's her biggest fan, her wrestling buddy, her everything.

But even in the chaos, there's beauty. There's learning. There's growth. For them, and for me. I'm constantly learning how to be a better mom, a more patient person, a more understanding human. And I think that's the cool thing about this whole parenting gig – you're always evolving, always growing right alongside your kids.

Making Memories, One Day at a Time

For Stella's birthday, we kept it pretty low-key, just family and a few close friends. She wanted a unicorn cake (of course!), and we just let her lead the way. It wasn't about extravagant gifts or a huge party; it was about celebrating *her*. Celebrating the amazing little girl she is, and showering her with love. And seeing her face light up, seeing her so happy, that's truly the best gift of all.

I'm trying to instill in my girls that it's the little things that matter most. The snuggles before bed, the silly dance parties in the kitchen, the walks around the neighborhood, the movie nights with popcorn. Those are the building blocks of their childhood, and I want them to look back and remember a home full of love, laughter, and a little bit of beautiful chaos.

To My Stella Bells: My Heart, My First Love

So, to my sweet Stella, my baby bells, my first love: Happy 4th Birthday, my angel. Thank you for making me a mom. Thank you for teaching me patience, and joy, and a love deeper than I ever thought possible. Thank you for your infectious laugh, your boundless energy, and your incredibly kind heart. You are truly one of a kind, and I am the luckiest mom in the entire world to get to watch you grow. I love you more than words could ever say, my sweet girl. Here's to many, many more years of magic, laughter, and making the most beautiful memories together. :,)