How Is This Possible?

Val, we're making plans for your first birthday party already. One. You're going to be one. It seems like a second ago that we were all in the hospital and I looked up at the clock and said 'Val! You're 4 hours old!'

But here we are, shopping for play structures and sort of starting to refer to you as a toddler. I cannot believe how fast it's gone, this time since you arrived in this world.

When you were but wee, a stranger with two seriously rowdy young sons told us to treasure every minute. We assured her that we were, but I don't think we quite prepared for just how fast it's gone.

Could someone please slow down the clock, just a little?

But. This is a really fun age. Val, you're almost walking. You laugh a lot now. You say 'no' an awful lot and I can't help but find it funny. You're even sleeping in your own crib for 7-8 hours at a stretch some nights. Not all nights, but enough to make me feel a whole lot better in the mornings.

You give hugs. Those little hugs are The Best Hugs Ever.