Way back in the olden days when Lenny and I were dating, he planned a big night out for us. After all, we’d been dating a whole six months. Six months! At that point in our lives, it felt like forever. Or the beginning of forever, at least. We were living in LA and he took me to see Rent. I thought it was magical—all the singing, dancing, fighting, struggle, love. From then on, any time I drove back and forth between my parents’ house and LA, I relived it by belting out listening to the soundtrack in the car. Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes…How do you measure, measure a year?
Now, almost 15 years (and a whole lotta minutes later), six months goes by in the blink of an eye. So two blinks later, Pink is turning one. Today. She’s one.
And if I look back, it’s been quite a year. It can be measured in all kinds of ways.
In diapers, in babbles, in nose drops, in teething tablets.
In late nights, in scootches, in laundry, in strife.
In five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes.
How do you measure a year in the life?
I know it’s a year she won’t remember. I also know it’s a year I won’t forget. I mean, sure, I’ll forget how old she was when her first tooth finally broke through. And I’ll forget how old she was when she first slept through the night. I may even forget how hilarious her slalom butt scooting is since she refuses to crawl. (Though I pray I won’t.)
But I know I’ll always remember how I literally watched hearts get bigger when she entered the world. The peace that came over me as a mom doing this for the third time, and finally feeling completely at peace with my abilities—and inabilities. The way Lenny suddenly seemed to understand that a girl and her dad have a special bond. The way two unruly boys started speaking in soft, sweet voices and using words like “precious”, “sweetie pie” and “beautiful”. The way friends and strangers alike softened when they saw her welcoming smile.
The world changed a year ago today. Well, my world did, at least.
And that overwhelming change, well, it can only truly be measured in one way. Measured in love. Seasons of love.
Happy Birthday, precious, sweetie pie Pink! We love you so very, very much.
Photo by the truly amazing and talented Jenny Lee. Used with permission.
Sam King says
May 17, 2012 at 8:07 amWhat a beautiful birthday post for a special little girl! Happy Birthday Pink!
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:36 pmThanks, Sam!
Bettie Garrison says
May 17, 2012 at 8:35 amShe is beautiful! Just like her mom and her grandmom! Love to you all and Happy first birthday Pink. 🙂
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:37 pmSo sweet, thank you. Would have loved it if you and your baby girls could have been here to celebrate with us. Someday…
Jodie Hoffman says
May 17, 2012 at 8:40 amyea! happy birthday and congrats to the family for surviving the first year! It’s all downhill easy peasy from here, right?! 😉
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:38 pmI totally expect to wake up to chirping birds and clean laundry tomorrow.
simona says
May 17, 2012 at 9:01 amBeautiful post for a beautiful girl–I can’t believe that she is 1 already!! It goes by soooo fast…savor every moment. Happy Birthday to your precious girl! XOXOXO
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:39 pmThanks so much, Simona. Hope to see you and your beautiful girl soon. Maybe we’ll hit those wineries again soon on a non-work day for you!
simona says
May 18, 2012 at 7:02 amonce this baby is here I am sooooo ready for some wineries 🙂 Sounds like a plan!
Anne says
May 17, 2012 at 10:05 amSO CUTE! I can’t wait to meet her.
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:39 pmI’ll be in touch so we can get together!
Amy Nelson says
May 17, 2012 at 10:49 amHappy Birthday sweet thing!!!
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:39 pmThanks so much, Aim!
Christina says
May 17, 2012 at 12:27 pmYou just got me all teary-eyed!! Happy birthday sweet girl! Xo
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:40 pmAww, teary eyed definitely describes a good portion of my day.
Carolina Whitty says
May 17, 2012 at 2:28 pmHappy Birthday to a special and beautiful girl!
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:40 pmThanks so much, Carolina!
Nancy Garrick says
May 17, 2012 at 3:50 pmAmy, I’m all teary-eyed! What a sweet post for your precious 1-year-old 🙂 You had me at the title, going to go find the CD right now! And, always the impressive wordsmith, I love your personalized lyric changes! xoxo
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:41 pmThanks, Nanc. But I promise not to sing them (or anything else) next time I see you. Let’s just say my writing voice seems to be the only one worth sharing!
Linda says
May 17, 2012 at 7:04 pmSweet post for a very sweet “swiffer” princess. Happy 1st Birthday, Pink!
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:42 pmLinda, I just wrapped up a Costco size box of Swiffers. Happy birthday, baby girl. Now get to work. Scoot, baby, scoot!
Linda says
May 18, 2012 at 7:17 amShe can come do my floors anytime!
Jenny says
May 17, 2012 at 7:18 pmHAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET LITTLE RAY RAY. You are so lucky to be the little girl in that family 🙂 Hugs and kisses to you!!
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 17, 2012 at 9:43 pmBaby Ray sends hugs and kisses back your way!
Michelle says
May 22, 2012 at 5:57 amSo sweet! Happy Birthday to your little girl! My little guy turns 2 tomorrow and I still can’t believe it! I guess I’ll be singing “fifty-one thousand, 200 hundred minutes…”
Amy, Using Our Words says
May 24, 2012 at 9:14 pmI hope you had a wonderful time celebrating your little boy!