Happy Birthday, Baby

Dear Alexa,

A year ago today I heard you cry for the first time. I gazed into your eyes for the first time. I held you in my arms while you slept for the first time.

I never fully understood how people could say "time goes by so fast" and "they grow up so fast" -- until now. Those excruciating hours breastfeeding that I never thought would end? They became short days. Those long days away from you at work that I never thought I would endure? They became short months. Those long months awaiting the "next stage"? They became a short year.

And now you're several stages past the first one. You went from a squishy newborn to a cooing cutie to a sitting duck to a leaning wonder to a crawling curiosity to a cruising troublemaker. You went from nursing every hour to holding your own bottle to eating hummus and pita.

Today we will eat cake and celebrate you, baby girl, and all the stages that have yet to come. There are so many more, and I fully intend to enjoy them because they are all so short.

Xoxo,
Mommy

Me, on my first birthday, nearly 32 years ago. I still make this face when I see chocolate.