Happy 1st Birthday, Beatrice!

Oh to have words that go beyond the cliche: "time flies when you are having fun."

But they fit the bill when I think back on the last 365 days. I wasn't expected to be so surprised by my insane amount of joy watching this little one go through each stage. Learning new things. Doing new 'tricks.' After all, I had been through this before. This was the second time around. We knew what to expect.

Except, watching Bea grow into her own person--next to Matilda--added to the joy. Watching her do her own thing, watching them together, and seeing the promise for the future of our family. 

It all just went so fast. 

Too fast.

It feels like just yesterday, Bea and I were hanging out on maternity leave.

But at the same time--the nights of being up 3 times to feed her feel like ages ago.

So now...to try to capture this incredible little human in words.

Bea at 1 means....

Always on the move.

Always. 

Oh, there are drive-by snuggles.

But unless she wants up, she mostly just wants to be on the move.

She loves her big sister.

Especially if said big sister has a baggie of Cheerios or Kix in hand.

At which point, she will relentlessly chase her around (via her stankylegg crawl move) until Matilda shares what is in her bag with her.

She just graduated to the big girl bath.

And she LOVES the big girl bath.

Splashing.

Crawling.

Back into the corner as far as she can.

But let's be honest. The corner thing is not just a bathtime affair.

Bea has a little bit of 'creeper' in her. Preferring to seek out tight spots, places she is hidden and confined. Put her down in the middle of a giant room, and she will beeline for a corner of some sort every time.

Bea is a climber. Like none other. Certainly unlike her sister who wasn't even really crawling at this age.

In fact, they had to remove the little book shelf from the infant room at school because they said Bea will systematically remove each book to make it easier to crawl UP the bookshelf, and then do just that.

And when she isn't climbing, she is giving me big snuggles. Nate is jealous that she is still so mom-focused (but he knows the Daddy phase will hit her too).

Each morning when I get her out of her crib she gives me a GIANT snuggle. Puts her arms around my neck, her head in my shoulder and just snuggles in.

Everyone should get to start their day like that. 

Bea is an independent explorer.

Happy to bop from toy to toy (or more like from food scrap to food scrap) on the floor. And is not easily persuaded to give up whatever is in her hand. 

If you take something from Bea that she is really into, she will let you know about it.

With pursed lips.

Leaning forward to put her head on the ground.

And then a big frustrated wail.

And although it seems as though it has been winter for her entire life, we have been able to get outside and enjoy the weather. And I just know that once we can release the girls out into the green grass, this one is going to be difficult to contain.

I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you, Bea. To hear your first words.

To watch you explore the world around in your way. You have opened our hearts in new ways we didn't think possible, and our family would not be the same without you.

We love you, Beatrice. Happy 1st Birthday!