Little 1
How big is too big to not be little anymore?
You, my little one, are one year old now.
And you’re not so little. You in fact are full of big, face-stretching smiles; loads of agility and grace; depths of patience.
You’re sturdy, steady and sure of yourself.
A year ago, three weeks/five days and two holidays ahead of your due date, we were in the hospital preparing to meet you. We were visited by a NICU nurse who said your early arrival could come with complications. She might need to intervene quickly, she warned us, as your lungs might not be ready yet. You might be too little.
But little one, you were just right. Big enough that when you arrived, right after noon on a wildly warm Saturday in December, so many surprising days ahead of when you were expected, the NICU nurse took one look at you and bowed right out of the room.
You were sturdy, steady and sure of yourself.
Now I can feel your littleness as I squeeze you tight in my arms and I see your bigness in your boldness, warmth and love. You’re the perfect counterbalance your brother needs in a companion. And whereas Cam broke me open, making me a mother, you smoothed out my edges and formed me into my best shape.
We threw a big, little birthday party for you. I made too much cake, we sang loudly and had faces on Zoom of family who virtually celebrated you; yet it was just four of us gathered around the kitchen table.
You didn’t mind. You were confused by the computer full of faces yet happily played around with your cake, mostly eating and offering me and Daddy frosting from your fingers.
See? Sturdy, steady and sure of yourself.
I can’t wait to celebrate all the wonderful ways you’ll continue to grow–hopefully in the biggest and bestest ways, while still seeing you as my forever little.
Happy, happy first birthday to you, little A.
You, my little one, are one year old now.
And you’re not so little. You in fact are full of big, face-stretching smiles; loads of agility and grace; depths of patience.
You’re sturdy, steady and sure of yourself.
A year ago, three weeks/five days and two holidays ahead of your due date, we were in the hospital preparing to meet you. We were visited by a NICU nurse who said your early arrival could come with complications. She might need to intervene quickly, she warned us, as your lungs might not be ready yet. You might be too little.
But little one, you were just right. Big enough that when you arrived, right after noon on a wildly warm Saturday in December, so many surprising days ahead of when you were expected, the NICU nurse took one look at you and bowed right out of the room.
You were sturdy, steady and sure of yourself.
Now I can feel your littleness as I squeeze you tight in my arms and I see your bigness in your boldness, warmth and love. You’re the perfect counterbalance your brother needs in a companion. And whereas Cam broke me open, making me a mother, you smoothed out my edges and formed me into my best shape.
We threw a big, little birthday party for you. I made too much cake, we sang loudly and had faces on Zoom of family who virtually celebrated you; yet it was just four of us gathered around the kitchen table.
You didn’t mind. You were confused by the computer full of faces yet happily played around with your cake, mostly eating and offering me and Daddy frosting from your fingers.
See? Sturdy, steady and sure of yourself.
I can’t wait to celebrate all the wonderful ways you’ll continue to grow–hopefully in the biggest and bestest ways, while still seeing you as my forever little.
Happy, happy first birthday to you, little A.