365 Days

At exactly 10:17 am, 365* days ago today, a new life came in to being. After 32 hours and at least that many stitches, our girl had arrived. With one slow blink, she irreversibly wound her way into our hearts. Since that time, we've had ups and downs. And a LOT of messes. We've learned a little bit about parenting but mostly we've learned that everything we thought we knew, we didn't. What follows are just a few of the lessons we've learned in the last year:

- A naked baby is a cute, but dangerous thing.

- Babies, much like cats, love toilet paper.

- Babies will always pick the exact moment that you fall asleep to start crying.

- Never, EVER, wake a sleeping baby.

- A little bit of orange baby food can make a big mess.

- Favorite toys are those not intended to be: water bottles, empty boxes, coasters, etc.

- Babies can sleep through a marching band practicing across the street (true story), but one misplaced foot on the creaky stair brings them fully awake.

- Babies can puke more than seems possible and smile about it.

- Changing a diaper on a plane sucks. Big time.

- Babies have inhumanly strong hands.

- Babies love pooping in a freshly changed diaper.

- You really do forget about the pain of childbirth, but it takes a while.

- Just when you think you're starting to get the hang of things, they change.

- Cuddling a baby is just about the best thing in the whole world.

Happy Birthday, Sophie Bean!!

*Technically speaking, it was 366 days because 2008 was a leap year, but that just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Forever

Eleven Months have now passed in the life of Sophie. In a matter of weeks she will see her first birthday. She is now more adept at moving around on her feet although she is still not walking more than a couple of steps independently. We expect that any day now she will let go of the coffee table and make a mad dash for the door. With a backward wave and a see ya later, she'll be off playing with her neighborhood comrades.

I don't talk about it often, but I can see her future. I can see her first days of school. I will cry and she will not. She will love ballet but will run outside after class and jump straight into mud puddles. I can see her laying on the floor coloring in her books. She will have wispy fine blond hair, just like I did as a child, and despite my best efforts, it will often be in tangles from her play. I can see as she becomes a young woman and the changes that she will grow through: strange new body, getting her period, discovering boys. I see her first date, as her daddy stares down the unfortunate fellow who comes to the door. Her exuberance and joy as she runs down the sidewalk. I can see her elation and our fear when she gets her driver's license. I see her looking so beautiful in her prom gown. I see her graduation, the fear and excitement of the transition from child to adult. I can see her in her dorm room, exercising her first real independence, I call five times a day to make sure she's okay. I can see her when she calls to tell me that she has met someone wonderful and that it is getting serious. When she calls to say that he has asked her to be his bride I will cry, tears of joy. And sadness. I can see their wedding, I weep openly when my husband gives her over to this young man, their hearts full of love and hope. I can see her when she tells me that they are expecting their first child and I can say, "Oh, my love, what a world of wonder awaits you!" I can see our grandbabies in my husband's arms.

I can see forever.

I see all of this. And none of it. There will no doubt be sorrow in our lives. But there will be great joy as well. Life is an uncertain thing, but that is most definitely part of the fun.

Eleven

Happy 11 Month Birthday Baby Bean!

Ten

10 (ten) is:

An even natural number following 9 and preceding 11.

The atomic number of neon.

The number of spacetime dimensions in some superstring theories.

The Ten Commandments are considered a cornerstone of Judaism and Christianity.

In Judaism, ten adults are the required quorum for prayer services.

The interval of a major or minor tenth is an octave plus a major or minor third. (I am so unmusical, that this sentence is absolute gibberish to me.)

The title of quite a few albums, including recordings by Pearl Jam and LL Cool J.

In rugby union the fly-half wears the 10 shirt. (Incidentally, this is the position that Neil played.)

In ten-pin bowling, 10 pins are arranged in a triangular pattern and there are 10 frames per game.

The highest score possible in Olympics competitions.

In Baseball there are always at least 10 players on the field at a time (including the batter).

The age, in years, I was when I got my ears pierced. Also likely the age Sophie will be, although her Pinni and Amamma are chomping at the bit to spirit her away and bling her up.

Ten-codes are commonly used on emergency service radio systems. Ie. 10-4 good buddy.

The number of theatrical Star Trek films that have been released so far. (The Wrath of Khan is still my favorite.)

The number of Provinces in Canada.

Number of dots in a tetractys.

A decapod crustacean has ten limbs.


The age in months Sophie Bean is today!