1st Birthday

We celebrated S--'s birthday today. The big ONE YEAR. Somehow, this little ball of snuggles has managed to keep the symptoms of collic for a full year - quite impressive, really. And a fact for which I intend to receive pats of sympathy from other mothers for years to come.


But despite the random outbursts of screaming and inconsolability, S-- has also grown into a delightful and unique individual. Her hair short, dark and straight frames her face as a boy, and her darker colors best complement her complexion so often the poor girl is taken for a boy. She seems not to mind a bit. In fact, S-- has a grin for any person she sees. In a full elevator, she can have every adult talking to her. Walking down a busy street, she sometimes manages to turn every head. In the land of black hair and dark skin, her light skin and thin hair draw attraction everywhere she goes. The same is true of her sister, with blue eyes and blonde hair. But while her sister withdraws from every stranger's touch, S-- revels in it. She will talk to anyone, as long as they will talk to her.


She delights in sharing what makes her smile - from placing a Cheerio in your mouth, to gasping as she places a leaf on your lap. She will eat anything, from spicy Indian food to steamed peas.


She is a difficult child, prone to temper tantrums and long crying spells. But she is also a strong child, learning to comfort herself and able to catch herself when she falls. She loves being in the company of others, and she revels in her newfound ability to explore the world around her.

She is most at home in the water. She can spend hours at the pool, and endless time in the bathtub. She doesn't flinch if a bucket of water is dumped on her head. And whereas on dry land, she tumbles all over, in the water she may slip, but her face never touches the water.

Her smile is infectious. Her body is so snuggly. And when she is not driving me mad, she is an amazing little girl.

The cake tasted good, even though it took 20 minutes longer to cook because the oven wouldn't maintain a constant temperature. The frosting tasted good, even though it hardened too fast and we had to eat it like candy on the side. The ice-cream tasted good, even though they had no vanilla. Opening the presents was fun, even though there was no family to share.

Despite the negatives, all of the positives were true. We shared a lovely birthday party with our friends. We ate tasty cake and ice-cream and opened many fun presents. We had a lovely evening. And we are all exhausted.