Almost One!

 

It’s September. The first month you have seen before. You are almost one and a party is being planned to celebrate. You can hold up one finger when asked how old you are (although you do it in response to some other questions as well). You walk all around behind your “walkers” (although you have trouble maneuvering corners) and you say several words appropriately. You no longer take a bath in your “duck tub”.  You are too big! You smile and laugh and enjoy life. It is contagious; it is fun to be with you. There are so many people who love you in your life and I’m glad I am one of them. I didn’t take all of the pictures in this post, but I chose them on purpose. The bathtub reminds me of how fast a baby grows the first year; just yesterday the kitchen sink seemed to swallow you! The picture at Toys R Us with Bert & Ernie reminds me of how important the Sesame Street characters may become in your life. They are so engaging and have a lot to teach us. And a lot of toddler tunes playing on Pandora. I did take the picture of you eating toast & yogurt on Thursday morning prior to taking you to Mothers Day Out at Jewish Community Center. Driving you a long way is new for me. Hearing you cry when I can’t do anything about it is hard. But you don’t cry in the car too much. And you really seem to enjoy MDO! You look so pretty standing by the rocker in your bed room. Before you were born the chair was empty & waiting for you. Now it won’t be long before holding you in the chair pre-sleep while you happily take your bottle will just be a memory. But there will be more times of reading books to you in the chair & having you delightedly playing “hide & seek” around the chair. The last picture seems to be you going to a private place to enjoy a good book. Reading books is such an important learning experience as well as a source of joy & pleasure & inspiration. I hope you will always find the time and place to enjoy a good book. Next Saturday we will celebrate your first birthday! The world is a better place & hopefully I am a better person because you were born. Over the years of your mother’s life I have learned the memories of the past are precious but the days ahead remain more precious and exciting and a pleasure. I am looking forward to all of the “one-mores” of the future!