ONE!

Val,

I have blinked once again and here you are, a whole year old. Of course, I'm writing this almost a month late but thanks to the miracle of backdated posts, I'm making it look like I wrote this on your birthday.

We celebrated your big day a few days early, at the park. You had a blast, walking around in your very pretty birthday outfit.

When it came time for your cake, which was made with love by Auntie Soosan, you didn't know what to think of it, and since we were all gathered around you, cameras poised, you just sort of looked back at all of us. That's what I would have done, too.

We planned your party understanding it was mostly for us. For you, it was just a fun day at park with all your friends. I was just happy I didn't cry when everyone sang for you.

You're walking now, and though you stumble a fair bit, you're still a girl on the go. You're eating with a spoon and a fork. It's a messy process but we're so damn proud of you.

Having your party go off without a hitch helped me put aside the lingering issues I had around the day you were born. It also marked an entire year of you being breastfed. I'm so proud that we made it to this point. You're healthy and skinny. I like to think that it's because of all that breastmilk. And good genes.

It has been one hell of a year, little girl. You have indeed changed my life and I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything. Happy birthday Val.