Where has the time gone?

I'm sitting here at work, wondering how it's possible that my baby is turning 1? It seems like yesterday we found out I was pregnant, cried tears of absolute fear, and eventually the fear turned into complete happiness. It's not a secret that Marley wasn't planned, but she ended up being the best thing to happen to Jason and I. There's no doubt that she would have come along further down the road, but I guess someone had other plans for us. February was a very busy month for us - bachelorette parties, weddings, birthdays - we were out a lot. When my making my appointment with the doctor to confirm the pregnancy, the nurse on the phone asked if I knew the "special day". She laughed when I told her we had a lot of special days in February and couldn't pinpoint the exact day. It wasn't until later that I figured out Marley was conceived around the time of my dad's anniversary of his death. They always say with death, there is usually a life. With my grandpa, it was my aunt who found out she was expecting. But with my dad, nothing happened immediately so I chalked that whole theory up to a myth. Five years later, I guess death was accompanied by life, even if it was years later. Even more, I never thought anything of Marley being born on a 13th. It never occurred to me that that was a special number to my dad, his number. Everyone in the hospital was extremely superstitious and said we needed to be careful, but we just shook it off, knowing the 13th would always be special and sacred, for it was always going to be our baby girl's birthday. I digress, but the point of my rant is I can't believe a year has almost passed. Marley was not an easy baby - she was colicky, a horrible sleeper, and incredibly sensitive to most formulas. Now, however, she is silly, loving, funny, and wonderful. We have our moments, her and I, but it's in those moments I see her personality coming out and realize how much alike we are. It saddens me to see her growing up and so quickly - she still depends on us so much, but more and more, I see her branching out on her own, exploring the world. I constantly wonder if we're doing a good job and hoping she turns out to be respectful and the kind of kid that people talk about when she's not around. I hope she has a crazy imagination and never stops wondering. I hope she plays nice and shares and isn't the brat you silently say to yourself "I wish someone would shut that kid up". I hope she has my random sense of humor and my ability to laugh at myself, but has Jason's practicality and ability to focus. I have so many hope and dreams for her and when it comes down to it, I hope she just has the confidence to be herself.