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.
What a beautiful birthday post for a special little girl! Happy Birthday Pink!
Thanks, Sam!
She is beautiful! Just like her mom and her grandmom! Love to you all and Happy first birthday Pink. 🙂
So sweet, thank you. Would have loved it if you and your baby girls could have been here to celebrate with us. Someday…
yea! happy birthday and congrats to the family for surviving the first year! It’s all downhill easy peasy from here, right?! 😉
I totally expect to wake up to chirping birds and clean laundry tomorrow.
Beautiful 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
Thanks 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!
once this baby is here I am sooooo ready for some wineries 🙂 Sounds like a plan!
SO CUTE! I can’t wait to meet her.
I’ll be in touch so we can get together!
Happy Birthday sweet thing!!!
Thanks so much, Aim!
You just got me all teary-eyed!! Happy birthday sweet girl! Xo
Aww, teary eyed definitely describes a good portion of my day.
Happy Birthday to a special and beautiful girl!
Thanks so much, Carolina!
Amy, 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
Thanks, 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!
Sweet post for a very sweet “swiffer” princess. Happy 1st Birthday, Pink!
Linda, I just wrapped up a Costco size box of Swiffers. Happy birthday, baby girl. Now get to work. Scoot, baby, scoot!
She can come do my floors anytime!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET LITTLE RAY RAY. You are so lucky to be the little girl in that family 🙂 Hugs and kisses to you!!
Baby Ray sends hugs and kisses back your way!
So 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…”
I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating your little boy!