I always knew that when I had my baby - especially my first - that it would be a special time. But having a baby that was a royal was a whole different story.

All I focused on was Aiyla.

I loved holding her while we watched the news to see her Dad's live interview.

"Do you want anything to eat?" my Mom asked me, "A sandwich or something?"

I nodded, "A sandwich would be nice, I think she's finally starting to go to sleep. It's around that time."

"I'll go fix it for you, Amie." my mom got off the couch and walked to the kitchen

My heart melted as my sweet baby girl wrapped her hand around my finger. I never wanted her to grow up. I just wanted to protect her from everything.

There was footage of the London Eye lit up in pink last night and it reminded me of the time that Archie surprised me on a date there.

Then his beautiful face popped up on the TV screen.

"Yes, I'm very excited to announce that Alena and myself welcomed a beautiful, precious baby girl into the world a few days ago. Mother and baby are doing well." he beamed, "This has to be the most amazing that to happen to me."

He let out a small laugh, "I don't even know how women do it. It's quite incredible and beyond comprehension. We're both so happy and grateful for our sweet Aiyla. Thank you for all of the love and support from all over the world and all of you here today."

"How did you pick the name?" a reporter asked him

"We choose Aiyla's first name partially just because we liked how it sounded and there hasn't been an Aiyla in either one of our families. Beatrice means she who brings happiness and we prayed for her and she makes us so incredibly happy. Of course, Frances was chosen after my mother." Archie began to get choked up

He looked down and back up, "It's hard to go through this without my own Mother and I wish she could be here so badly. No amount of wishing and praying will bring her back but I do have my Aiyla. I just want to be the best man I can be for both Alena and Aiyla. I will make the best choices for our family and our nation."

"Thank you very much." he spoke softly before he walked away

I was so proud of him and I couldn't wait to continue to grow our family together.

It was so heartwarming to watching our family members meet Aiyla.

She had a certain presence about her that just roped everybody in.

"She's absolutely gorgeous and I'm so happy to be your Aunt little Aiyla." Alexandra beamed as she held her

"I'm obsessed with her name." Matilda looked at me, "It's so pretty and fits her perfectly."

Archie nodded, "That's our little Bean."

"Is that her nickname?" Ruth wondered

"She has a bunch." I began, "Bean has been there from day one, then there is Yaya from my Mom and AiAi. Bean is the one we call her the most, Archie came up with it."

Archie took Aiyla from Alexandra, "My baby girl."

"Well, we need to start planning her Christening." Ruth began

Archie cleared his throat, "Yeah, let's talk about when she's been on this Earth for a month. We just need time to adjust."

He was very right.

The last thing we wanted was to be pushed into something quickly.

But life went on.

It was like I blinked and Aiyla was already a month old.

"I think she's a daddy's girl." I pointed out to Archie

There would be times when she got fussy and the only person she would stop crying for was Archie. She would smile when she saw him.

I couldn't believe that at some point in my life, I was the same size as her.

"This is my first Christmas Dress." I showed Archie before I put it on Aiyla, "I know it's nowhere near Christmas but she's gonna be so big come then."

"Five months old." Archie realized, "I'm not ready to start doing appearances again. I like being here with both of you."

I looked at Archie, "You still have a month. I'm sure if you want more time your Dad wouldn't mind."

"I know." Archie spoke as he troked Aiyla's head, "But I need to do it for her."

I kissed his cheek, "You're a good man and an amazing father."

When Aiyla hit two months old, Archie had to go back to his duties. Fortunately, I didn't have to go back until January.

"Ruth came by along with some other people and we planned out the Christening," I told Archie as he rocked Aiyla to sleep, "It's gonna be private and she's going to wear the same outfit that you did. We're debating if she should skip Trooping The Colour or not, well Ruth is."

Archie looked up, "I don't want her there. She's too young and it's too loud."

"I agree." I sat down on the other chair, "I think we need to talk about her privacy."

"I really don't want her in the public eye. I know she'll have to be at some point but just not right now." Archie looked at me

I nodded, "I agree with you not until she's at least six months old."

Archie kept rocking her softly, "Do you think she'll ever resent me for bringing her into this royal world?"

"Archie, no." I face sunk, "I know that you'll go hard for her no matter what and she'll know that too."

"I love her so much. I don't care what it takes, I just want to keep her safe." Archie beamed

Like I always said and Archie always proved - he was a man of his word.

October brought Aiyla's christening.

She looked so angelic in her gown that her Dad and aunties were christened in. I think seeing it on our daughter made Archie a little sentimental.

"It's just one of those things." Archie looked in the mirror, "It's nice to know that my Mom touched this with me in it and now I'm here with my daughter and my beautiful wife who is snapping back like it's nothing."

I kissed his cheek, "I love you and your Mom would be so proud of you."

I looked at Aiyla, "And she would've loved to have met you, my sweet beanie baby."

Aiyla's bright blue eyes turned to Archie's beautiful brown eyes. She had caramel skin and she was beginning to look like a lot like her Dad.

Her christening went really well. The press got a few pictures but it was only our family on the inside.

The following Saturday, we got to watch Trooping the Colour on TV. Even though Archie and I could've gone, we didn't want to leave Aiyla alone. I didn't know what to do when I had to leave her with a nanny. We probably would get shit from it from the media but we didn't care.

Like we said, family first.

In November and December, Aiyla got to go to Los Angeles.

In November, we only went for a week. It was nice to have my extended family finally meet her even though she was nearly five months old.

Even though we spent our first Christmas as a family of four in Los Angeles, we went back to California for the new year.

"I think that we should go to Florida in July." Archie began, "Our first family vacation."

"I would like that, speaking of first, we have our first family appearance in April." I brought up, "How do you feel?"

He shrugged, "She'll be nine months old. She won't remember it but I just hope it goes well. The flight to South Africa is not short."

I rubbed his back, "I think it'll all go fine. She is her father's daughter and her grandmother's granddaughter."

And it did go well.

Aiyla stole the whole show while we had a meeting with the President of South Africa and his wife. She was smiling, clapping, and just being the big ball of sunshine that she always was.

Plus she looked so freakin' cute in her dress and bow.

That night in our hotel room and Aiyla was bouncing up and down while giggling.

"Say Dada." I smiled at her as she let out gibberish, "Dada!"

"Dada!" she repeated back with a big smile on her face

I looked over at Archie and my jaw dropped, "She said it! Good job, Bean!"

Archie hugged her as they both had a huge smile on their face, "Dada loves you my Aiyla Bean!"

"So so so much." he said as he rubbed her back