Mia Bean,
Happy Birthday, my baby girl. You are twelve months old today, and a year ago right now I was holding you in my arms for the first time. You have grown so much, from just under eight pounds to almost 25. Your jet black, sticky-outy hair has given way to light brown that lies down calmly except for the riotous curls behind both ears. Your soft, gummy mouth is full of eight teeth. Your quiet, whimpering cry has become wails and screeches and hoots and hollers and giggles and grunts and babblings and even words. From a tiny swaddled bundle in the crook of my arm who couldn't stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time, you have grown into a sitting, rolling, clapping, pointing, crawling, walking, beautiful little girl.
This year has been the best of everything. I'm living a life I didn't even imagine existed, and I adore it. I adore you, my big girl, my toddler, my Mia, my baby bean.
This month you learned to walk. You still prefer to hold onto your truck or a nearby finger or leg, but you will take a few, tentative steps on your own. You also learned to stand up unassisted and to do so while clapping or raising your arms over your head or giggling at your own cleverness. With just a bit of support, you abandon walking in favor of running.
This month you also learned how to control your body and make it do fun things. You learned to climb onto a pile of blankets and get yourself stuck so you can flail around and giggle. You learned how to fling yourself over backwards, then sit back up and do it again. You are slowly learning not to smash your head into a wall while doing it. You have learned that when you clap or point or raise your arms or make a face, the people around you will do the same thing, and you revel in your new found power. You are in control of the world right now, beautiful girl, enjoy it.
You don't talk much, mostly mama and dada and the meaning behind those are hit or miss, but you babble non-stop and have learned so many words. You can comply when asked to point at the fan, the light, your tummy, nose, hair, truck, mama, and sometimes dada. You know apple, pear, avocado, water, cheese, up, down, nap, no, and the list goes on and on.
Your focus is incredible. You will sit and play for half an hour with a wallet you can take cards and tickets out of, anything with a lid, your blocks, your cups, your books, so many things that hold your interest. You delight in handing anybody anything and are learning how things work together, how to stack things, how to put blocks in and out of the bucket, how the world relates to you and to itself.
Your physical milestones are slowing down and your mental milestones are happening so fast we can no longer keep track. This month you discovered under, so we can no longer slide something under the couch and make it "disappear," now you will go right in after it. You have such a personality and an attitude and at times a temper. You are becoming yourself, becoming your own person, and I feel so blessed to be here to watch it happen.
You are napping now, recovering from your birthday party. You were attended by Grandma and Papa, Mimi and Grandpa, Uncle Erich and Aunt Kelly, Great-Aunt Bev and Big Papa. There must be a thousand pictures documenting those two and a half hours. You ate cake, which you enjoyed, and played with the ribbons and boxes and paper and bags from your presents. Mostly though, you just charmed your guests with your smiling and playing and flirting. It's always like that, though. When I take you out, people can't keep their eyes off you. You are magnetic and mesmerizing and more so every day.
It's been an amazing, wonderful, challenging, fabulous, difficult, gorgeous year. Thank you for that. Thank you for coming to us. Thank you for showing me that all the poets who describe love as an ocean, a chasm, an eternity were right, were telling the truth, were talking about their child.
Love,
Mom
Comments (66)
Everything you say is true. Having kids gave me a perspective that I was sorely lacking. Though I completely respect and applaud those folk who do not wish for children, I'm also aware that this same choice comes at the expense of the perspective you and I (and others) have. The love...it is boundless. Nothing else on earth could ever tether me to the ground the way my three boys have. And nothing else could, at the same time, set me free. Your post was wonderful
Posted by wordgirl | July 22, 2006 2:52 PM
Happy Birthday, Mia!
Wish you a superb year ahead!
Posted by Soma | July 22, 2006 2:52 PM
Happy Birthday, Mia! And congratulations on your first year, Beth :)
Posted by Stephanie | July 22, 2006 3:00 PM
Happy Birthday!
She is so adorable!
Posted by liz | July 22, 2006 3:02 PM
I started reading you the week before Mia.... great post girl.
absolutely great.
happy birthday little bean.
Posted by speckledpup | July 22, 2006 3:34 PM
Happy Birthday Mia!!
Posted by Denise | July 22, 2006 3:36 PM
Beth that was a beautiful letter. I am sitting her crying. Sheesh. Mia is one lucky girl. Thank you for sharing her with us for the last year.
Happy 1st birthday Mia Cactus-Fish. ;)
Posted by Melissa | July 22, 2006 3:51 PM
Beth,
You look great in those heels!
Mia looks so happy and really enjoying herself.
Hope you and Chris celebrate your achievement!
Congratulations on the 1st year of parenthood!
May you have many, many more years of discovery and just letting your natural maternal-paternal instincts take over. So far, so good.
Happy Birthday, Mia!
Tootles,
Anni :-)
Posted by Anni | July 22, 2006 4:07 PM
She is completely mesmerizing. Happy Birthday to your baby girl!
Posted by something blue | July 22, 2006 4:44 PM
Awesome post. I feel you on every word of it...our children - they are amazing!
Posted by Tomika | July 22, 2006 4:44 PM
*sigh*
Happy birthday, baby girl.
And nice legs, mom. ;-)
Posted by mr lady | July 22, 2006 4:47 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIA-BEAN!!!!!!
ONE is a big accomplishment and you have done with style and adorableness. :-)
Beth - I must say you look awesome! This whole mothering thing definitely agrees with you.
Here's to a wonderful next year!!
Posted by Carrster | July 22, 2006 4:56 PM
Happy birthday Mia! I cant believe its been a year since she came into the world! Wow. And Beth? You look hot in that outfit. Way to Go.
Posted by alfredsmom | July 22, 2006 4:57 PM
Crying on a perfectly lovely Saturday afternoon...that's what I'm doing. Happy birthday to the sweetest Mia in the world, you truly bring joy and light to all of us!
And Beth, honey, you look totally smashing. I think Chris got a little distracted by your legs while snapping Mia...:)
Posted by samantha | July 22, 2006 5:09 PM
Happy Birthday Little Bean!
Beautiful pictures and touching post.
And yes, Beth, you have some smokin' legs! Don't let what you think of your stomach get to you, because the rest of you looks fabulous. When I'm a mommy I wanna look just like you:-)
Posted by samantha jo campen | July 22, 2006 5:10 PM
What a beautiful letter and one that she will treasure when she's older.
Glad your day went so well. That's my kind of party. Simple and focused on the birthday girl.
And you look so lovely.
Posted by ann adams | July 22, 2006 5:34 PM
What a beautiful letter to Mia. It's amazing what being a parent can do...you feel feelings you never knew existed. What a fabulous first year you've all had! Best to you!
Posted by Sharri | July 22, 2006 5:58 PM
That was a wonderful post Beth!
Happy 1st Birthday Mia!
Posted by Emily | July 22, 2006 6:06 PM
Happy birthday! I love the last paragraph, it's so true.
Posted by krystyn | July 22, 2006 6:16 PM
Happy birthday Mia!
What a wonderful little girl - and you look great in that outfir (as does Mia in hers...)
Posted by Katherine | July 22, 2006 6:16 PM
Happy First Birthday Mia!
Those sentiments were absolutley beautiful and I teared up reading them.
And I must say you look smashing Beth! I covet your hair.
Posted by Lisa | July 22, 2006 6:22 PM
Happy 1st Birthday to Mia! She's such a big girl now and absolutely beautiful. And I totally want to look as hot as you a year after I have a child. What am I saying, I want to look as hot as you now!
Posted by Beth in StL | July 22, 2006 6:24 PM
It's a wonder, this thing called motherhood. Watching our girls grow, seeing them change and advance. What a miracle!
In fact when I talk to Hubby about Mia, I always refer to her as your "Miracle Baby". For this child has come to two wonderful people and changed your life in all sorts of good ways!
Happy Birthday, Darling Mia!
And Happy 1 year to you, Beth and Chris!!!!
Love,
Cyber Granny Princess!!!
Posted by Maribeth | July 22, 2006 6:31 PM
Happy First Birthday Mia Bean!
Beth- you look amazing by the way!
Thanks for sharing all the pictures of such a beautiful baby for the last year. It's hard to believe that it was a year ago. Doesn't it seem like she's always been there?
Have a great birthday weekend!
Posted by donut | July 22, 2006 6:35 PM
Happy 1st Birthday, Mia! What an exciting year you've had - what a wonderful life to look forward to.
Amy :)
Posted by Amy | July 22, 2006 7:09 PM
Hippo Birdie, Squigglesaurus! Didja save any of that cake for me? ;-P
Posted by shelley | July 22, 2006 8:04 PM
Happy Birthday Mia!!
Posted by Karen | July 22, 2006 8:11 PM
Happy Day to all!
Posted by Snapper | July 22, 2006 8:20 PM
I can't believe it's been a whole YEAR! Happy Birthday Mia Bean :o)
Posted by Sheryl | July 22, 2006 8:51 PM
Happy Birthday, Miss Mia!
Beautiful perspective, Mom. One of the best things about parental love is that when you can't imagine being able to love anything any more or you'll burst, you have another baby and fall in love all over again and realize that your heart has the capacity to expand exponentially.
Glad to hear the party was a smash (and to see that Mia eats cake...lol).
YOU look fabulous!!
Posted by Jaycie | July 22, 2006 8:52 PM
Happy Birthday Mia! Did your Daddy get any video of you smashing your first cake?
Beth...you look mahvalous!!!
Posted by Krush | July 22, 2006 8:52 PM
What great photos of the two of you. Happy birthday, Miss Mia!
Posted by Lisa | July 22, 2006 9:16 PM
Happy Birthday, Mia Bean! Wishing you a happy, healthy life ahead full of riotous laughter to match your curls. ;)
Posted by Pammer | July 22, 2006 9:58 PM
Such a lovely letter, thank you for sharing. Looks like Mia had fun at her party.
Those are great heels you've got on!
Posted by Kate the Shrew | July 22, 2006 10:39 PM
Happy Birthday Mia....and Happy What a Joy it is to be a Mother day to you!
Posted by PoeticaL | July 22, 2006 10:51 PM
Sounds like the day was a success! Happy birthday, Mia!
Posted by Sarah | July 22, 2006 10:53 PM
Happy Birthday, Mia!
The photos are great, especially the one of you standing with the glass watching Mia.
Posted by Inga | July 23, 2006 12:06 AM
Happy Birthday, Mia!
Fancy shoes, Beth! You're looking hot!
In that last picture, Mia reminds me of Drew Barrymore in her E.T. days.
Posted by shokufeh | July 23, 2006 12:06 AM
God, that was beautiful!
What a finish!
Posted by Jen | July 23, 2006 1:09 AM
You and Chris never fail to make me cry-- the way you cherish your daughter. Happy birthday, beautiful Mia! And congratulations to you wonderful parents.
Posted by Shannon. | July 23, 2006 3:09 AM
a big happy birthday to baby bean! =D
Posted by averil | July 23, 2006 8:14 AM
*sniff, sniff*
That was beautiful.
Posted by mamatulip | July 23, 2006 11:10 AM
My internet was out of commission yesterday, and I cursed the ISP for keeping news of the birthday celebration from reaching my computer.
Happy Birthday, Miss Mia. My, how you've grown...
Posted by Emily | July 23, 2006 11:40 AM
Happy birthday, Mia!!!!!
Posted by Sparkle Pants | July 23, 2006 12:33 PM
Happy Birthday, Mia! and happy day to you, Beth, as a wonder-mom. ญญญญ Felicidades, chicas !!!!
(Great post . Absolutely great.)
Posted by Pilar (Claudia's mom ) | July 23, 2006 1:18 PM
ah. happy birthday, Mia!!
Posted by ali | July 23, 2006 1:26 PM
Happy Birthday Mia! What a beautiful, beautiful girl!
Posted by Lujza | July 23, 2006 1:43 PM
God, she is so beautiful. I never get tired of Mia pictures.
Posted by jodi | July 23, 2006 4:26 PM
Happy Birthday, Amelia!! You both look marvelous...it's been a fine year, yes?
Posted by JuJuBee | July 23, 2006 4:44 PM
Happy Birthday, Mia! Glad it was such a great day--for the entire family!
Posted by Alissa | July 23, 2006 5:04 PM
Happy Birthday Mia!!!
Congrats MOM and DAD!!!
Posted by corinna | July 23, 2006 6:24 PM
OK, first of all - those are some kick-ass shoes you've got there!
And second - happy birthday to Mia! She's so cute!
Posted by erin | July 23, 2006 6:39 PM
Happy Birfday Mia,
Luv,
Shephard
Posted by Corinne | July 23, 2006 7:38 PM
I'm such an idiot...
Love,
ShephERD
Posted by Corinne | July 23, 2006 7:39 PM
Wow, that picture of you in the heels watching Mia is great!!! Is that your usual daily wear? ;) So cute... Happy Birthday, Mia!
Posted by Liberal Banana | July 23, 2006 7:59 PM
Happy Birthday Mia! Where did the year go?!?
Posted by erika | July 23, 2006 8:59 PM
Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl.
And ... is that what you wore to her birthday party?! OMGSH: Yuh-hummy MUMMY.
Posted by s@bd | July 23, 2006 9:30 PM
Happy Birthday to Mia! Nice shoes by the way.
Posted by Frank | July 23, 2006 9:47 PM
Ummm, no one with a one year old should look as good as you do. Hate you! Love your shoes. But hate you!
Happy birthday, Mia!
Posted by RockStar Mommy | July 23, 2006 10:21 PM
Your lil girl is so cute. She looks very young for a year old. I mean she looks a year old but she has that extra cuteness to her that keeps her looking like a baby longer. My son lost that very early because he is so tall.
You look cute in your skirt! so stylish. lol
Posted by Andrea | July 23, 2006 10:43 PM
Happy Birthday MIA!!!!
Wow, I am completely stunned that a year has already flown by. Amazing how the internet connects seemingly random people and life events. I remember the day Mia was born, yet I do not personally know you, Chris or Mia. All in all, its awesome!
Here's to 99 more Ms. Mia!!!
Posted by penguintarts | July 23, 2006 10:44 PM
Happy 1st Mia!
Posted by Hot Mommy | July 24, 2006 2:40 AM
As always, beautifully written...and beautiful child! Looks like it was a great party. They grow up so fast, don't they? Happy birthday, Mia!!! Hope you have a spectacular, dream-filled second year!
Posted by Summer | July 24, 2006 11:23 AM
Happy first! She shares a birthday with the man I'm going to marry, I'm thinking that day must birth awesome people!
Posted by Michele | July 24, 2006 11:24 AM
I'm totally crying right now....I feel all these things....
Mia's doing so well! And, it just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it? Happy birthday!
Posted by haley-o | July 24, 2006 1:50 PM
Lovely as always. Happy Birthday to Mia. Congrats on your first year, Mom.
Posted by ObliviousMaven | July 24, 2006 10:10 PM