HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, MADELYN!!

In exactly 33 minutes (8:01 p.m.), my baby girl will be one whole year. I could spout off a hundred cliches right now...they're all true. Simply put, this year has been, hands down, the most rewarding, joyful, cup-runneth-over year of my life. I love being a mommy. I just love it. I love that I am entrusted with a wee human's owies and tears and words and crawling and walking and eating, and that I am ever rewarded with her smiles and kisses and laughter and wonder and curiosity. I love that I am challenged every day but that this job of parenting has a purpose and meaning beyond anything I've ever tackled before. I love introducing Madelyn to all of the delights this world has to offer, and I feel privileged that I get to comfort her and empower her when its sadness and injustice creeps in. I LOVE watching Kurt be a daddy! I love that he unabashedly adores his daughter and that there hasn't yet been a parenting task into which he hasn't just rolled up his sleeves and gotten his hands dirty (often, quite literally). I love that Maddie's eyes sparkle when she sees her daddy. I love that the start of one new life has strengthened our commitment to each other and given us a common source of laughter and pride and thankfulness even on the rough days. I love watching our parents as grandparents and our siblings as aunties and uncles. They are loving and supportive and generous beyond measure, and Madelyn's tiny spirit soars in their presence. I love my friends and the freedom they afford me to just be real.

Anne Lamott says that there are really only two prayers to be said: "Help, help help" and "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Well, this has been a whole year of "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Simple, and profound, as that.

We celebrated Maddie's birthday by taking the day off work and introducing her to the zoo. She smiled and squealed and kicked and waved to all of the animals, and we all had a blast. Have a look :)

(The new baby elephant at the Portland Zoo! SO cute!)


(Madelyn with a little birthday treat from her mommy and daddy--a giraffe backpack!)