12 Months

 

Maggie Mae,

We made it! I so clearly remember the days leading up to your arrival, I’m not sure that I’ll ever forget it. Your dad and I had no idea what an amazing human being you’d be, way more incredible than anything we could have ever imagined. The milestone of your first year was marked by a weekend-long celebration with friends and family. Our tiny house can’t hold all the people that love you, so we spread it out and made it work. Just like on the day you were born, the sun was high in the sky celebrating you!!

At your parties you spent most of the time toddling around checking in on everybody, pinching the people that dared to get their faces close enough to your little hands. At both parties you wore dresses made by Grammy, one out of fabric from your cowboy quilt and another from fabric of an old skirt of mine. I’ve decided that since we dress you in such clolorful clothing, not always matchy-matchy, and your wild hair sits atop your head that you look like one of Peter Pan’s Lost Boys. Regardless, I love you, your wild outfits and your crazy hair. In fact, all those things combined with your sparkling personality make you into YOU and I wouldn’t change one single, speck of your goodness.

This month we accompanied your dad to Las Vegas for a work-related trip, it was utterly delightful to bask in the sun with you. We spent days at the pool, exploring the huge casinos, walking in the Red Rocks and our super fancy hotel room. You loved to walk on the shiny floors and holler out to all the passing people, looking confused at the people that didn’t acknowledge you. We also learned this month that you are a people person! While we’d be eating dinner you would have to turn around in the high chair to see the other tables, often waving at them hoping to get their attention. I think people fascinate you because even in the grocery store you perk up on an aisle with other people on it.

Ahhhh….one year.  You are so loved, Mags. In Nancy Tillman’s  book On the Night You Were Born, one of our favorites, there is a line that is so very true: “there had never been anyone like you ever in the world.”  You received so many incredible gifts for your birthday: books, college money, toys, clothes, musical instruments, a tricycle, homemade blankets, etc.  Uncle Brian and Grandpa Miller made you a toy box that was like Papa’s when he was little. You opened all all your presents from inside that box , really funny. Great Grandpa Elvrum made you a perfect little park bench that you already dangerously climb and stand on backwards.Cora wrote you a song, which, if you’re reading this, I’m sure  is woven into the fabric of your life. It is perfect, just like you. The first time we heard it you were asleep in my arms, after your final birthday bash, Grammy and Grampy were getting ready to leave after helping to clean up, and your papa was nursing a cold. We all huddled around the computer to hear the song and it brought tears to every body’s eyes. There really isn’t anyone else like you in the world and you are still brand new.

I never know how to end these letters to you….what else could I tell you? You love to point at everything, knock on different surfaces to hear the different noises, read books, babble, walk, climb, play with our old iPod, nurse, go up stairs, sleep in our bed, hug Sydney, poke your friends, empty dirt out of potted plants, eat yogurt and bananas, wave at strangers, scream in your car seat, take one or two naps a day, grow 3.5 inches in 3 months, take things out of baskets, sometimes put them back in, sniff in and out of your nose real fast, click your tongue, not wear shoes, take your hats off, splash in the tub, dunk under water at the pool, and be in close proximity to your papa and me.

This past year has been extraordinary, thanks to you.

Happy 1st, Sweet Girl.

Love,

Mama