Where Did the Year Go? (My sweet baby girl is a year old today)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Before I start, I suppose I should clarify that “today.” Technically, it’s yesterday (Jan 17), but since I work nights it’s still today for me and this is the point in my day where things have quieted down enough to post. And “My baby girl is a year old yesterday.” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Still with me? You must be a sucker for kids. Or for their excited daddies.

I’m not sure why I feel the need to post this. It certainly fits the category, at least. It’s mundane (how many millions of people have a birthday today?), I’m not certain I have a point, and for some reason I have to share it. So share it I will.

When I look back at the last year, there are so many emotions that I don’t know how to describe them all. Joy, at seeing how she grows and changes, learns and shows us something new every day. And a certain (selfish, I know) sadness for the same reason - the more she grows, the more she leaves behind the tiny infant who was content to stay snuggled indefinately in my arms. I never realized until I saw it in my daughter that the search for independence doesn’t start at some nebulous point in adolescence, but from the moment they discover the world outside of their immediate selves.

Hmmm. This has gotten a bit melancholy, hasn’t it? How about I instead focus on the sense of wonder we experience as we see the world through her eyes - exciting, shiny and new, full of places to explore and discover and people to meet. Or the way my heart melts when, after being away from her for whatever reason, her face lights up as she reaches for me. Or the way she makes us laugh as she discovers music and begins to “dance” to the beat.

At some point in writing this, I realized that I don’t really have an ending in mind for this post. I started it not knowing where it was going to go. That’s appropriate, I guess, since I wrote it to recognize a milestone in the life of my daughter - and as any parent can tell you: when you start a child, you never know where they’re gonna go.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea. Daddy loves you.

2

It do go fast, don’t it? It’s never a loss as they grow bigger and more capable, though, it’s a a gain, as you get to watch and be proud as each day she can do something she couldn’t before. And that look they get when they see you and their face lights up cos’ it’s Daddy doesn’t go away, at least not for a while - it damn near breaks your heart with joy when a three year old sprints recklessly through a crowded airport, leaps into your arms and hangs onto your neck because he hasn’t seen you for a month, and it makes you want to be the kind of guy he thinks you are. Happy birthday, little Van Pelt.

3

Don’t worry the year hasn’t gone, it has just been invested for the future.

4

A birthday between Christmas and Valentines? She’s gonna make some lucky guy have a really unlucky wallet. Trust me… I know.

5

Aw, happy birthday to the little one!

I have a daughter who turns 1 on Friday, so I can relate. She’s still content to snuggle in Daddy’s arms, but she prefers that Daddy stands up and holds her so she can see what’s going on better.

I think she definitely knows that she’s Daddy’s little girl and can get away with murder because she’s so damn cute. What she doesn’t know is that she’ll always be Daddy’s cute little baby, even when she’s a teenager and nothing could be more uncool.

6

I hope that I didn’t overstate the sad part - the overwhelming emotion is excitement at each new development.

Thanks for the good wishes.

Would anyone care to see some pictures?

7

very nice looking child- congratulations!

I found after raising 5 kids that every age has its wonder and the best thing you can do is take it all in as much as you can. She’s probably starting to interact with you a lot more which can be a lot of fun. Enjoy fatherhood, it’s a blast.

8

The night before my oldest child turned 3, I kissed her and told her that I would miss my 2-year-old girl, and gave her a little recap of all the things she started to learn to do herself that year, and added that I was looking forward to meeting a little 3-year-old girl in the morning.

I did this the next year as well, when she turned from 3 to 4. (I’ve done this with all my children since then.)

Then when I fondly but somewhat sadly bid farewell to my four-year-old girl, she said to me, “Don’t feel bad, tomorrow when I’m five, the four-year-old me will still be inside me.”

I just know I’m going to bring that up at her wedding, I should live so long to see it…

9

Write it down Robardin! Keep the checklist going!
I certainly understand the OP’s point. The Butlerette is now 9 months old, still somewhat the little infant I brought home so many months ago, but now a little moving monster that likes to wiggle instead of lying still in my arms!

Though you can’t beat the look out the window as she cries “da da da da da” as she sees me getting in the car to go to work. How dare I leave, there is playing to do!!! :smiley: I know there will be a day where it’s celebration instead.