FIRST BIRTHDAY!

Vita is ONE YEAR old! It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. In the past twelve months, Vita gained eleven pounds, and grew seven inches. She has two bottom teeth, and four top teeth just broke through her poor little gums this weekend. She still hasn't met a food she doesn't like. She learned how to turn over, and crawl, and now she can stand on her own and take a few steps. She spent two months working at a government agency with her mom, and travelled across the country in an airplane. She loves going to "school" every day, especially during circle time and sandbox time. She loves baths but hates having her nose wiped or her diaper changed. She overcame her fear of barking pumpkins, but she's still not sure about the crashing sounds of ocean waves. Oh, and she inhaled a spore of Clostridium from the air, developed the most toxic substance known to science in her intestine, flew in a helicopter to the hospital, became paralyzed, stopped breathing, took a rare new drug, and made a miraculous recovery... all without losing her sense of humor or her love of life. On Saturday, we had a very small non-party to celebrate Vita's first year of life... all that has occurred, and all that is to come. Here's the birthday girl with mom, and then with dad! The decorations were up, the food was out, and the cupcakes were waiting... Finally Grandma Marianne and Aunt Mary arrived! The non-party in full swing. We all sang happy birthday and presented Vita with her first real sugar... a carrot cake cupcake. She ate some of it, but she didn't go nuts like I thought she might. A nice moment with Grandma. Vita made out like a bandit! She got so many great toys, she really didn't know what to do with herself. We had to open just one or two per day for a couple of days, and then I had to put a bunch of them in the closet for a while so she could focus on just a few at a time. On Sunday, Vita was back to her regular tricks, including trying to get into her hamper. Instead of putting the hamper out of reach as I usually do, I decided that in honor of Vita's birthday weekend I would just let her have at it. She played with this hamper, and with the dirty clothes, for over an hour. Then we went to the park for some time in the swings. And now, as Vita's birthday celebration ends... it's time for the Christmas season to begin.