On Sunday, I read the Tarnow blog and decided that their trip to Heights Park looked like something fun for us to try. Piper’s favorite part of the trip had nothing to do with the swing set, but instead with the much older skateboarder boys who were practicing jumping a little ramp. She stood there mesmerized for several minutes and the boys didn’t mind showing off for us. You’ll note the disinterest in the  swing:

Who’s coming to my party?

Daddy taught someone how to undo the velcro on her shoes, so that has become a favorite past time. Every time I pull her out of the car–even if we only go a block down the street–we have to put on her shoes again (as she calls them “shuzz”). The Shoe Removal Process happens a lot at home, too. Thanks, Daddy. You can see one shoe in the background in the picture below…  She’s wearing her new jammies that Mommy finally uncovered in the thousands of boxes of hand-me-downs from Aunt Lizzie. Having lost some of her baby fat, I think she looks like a little string bean:

Most mornings, Piper helps Daddy get the paper. On Wednesday morning, they didn’t get the paper together, so after we walked Daddy out to the car, I let Piper go get it herself.

Man, she’s cute!

It is your birthday morning and you are still asleep. Your daddy and I just got done reminiscing over morning coffee about your arrival into the world one year ago today. I still can’t believe you were right on time. March 7th. The second day in our marriage that our lives changed dramatically and forever for the better (the first one was our wedding day, but you weren’t here for that so you’re going to have to look through the album when you get older). What a wonder you were and continue to be!

Today Daddy and I are going to watch your videos from the past year, starting with the day that you came into the world. Then your Papa PJ and She-She are coming over this afternoon to see you. We may or may not have cupcakes. Your tummy has been a little upset the past couple of days, so the cupcakes might have to wait for your official birthday party on March 27th. We wanted your Nana Whitney to be able to celebrate with us, so we postponed it a couple of weeks. But we will be celebrating your life all day today.

You are stirring a little bit in your crib, but haven’t called for us yet. It feels like Christmas morning, waiting for you to wake up. Almost every morning is like this unless I didn’t go to bed early enough the night before. When you finally get around to calling for us this morning, we will likely race one another to your room and sing Happy Birthday. We can’t wait to see you! You will likely be standing up in your crib in your sleep sack with Lovey Bear in your arms, and when you see us you will probably start banging one hand on the top of the crib and begin squealing with delight.

Time plays tricks on me as I think through the past year, how it seems so short and so long all at the same time. We have had so much fun together and so many tears. All three of us! You are growing us up more and more each day, and we are more smitten with you than the day before… and the day before that and the day before that. Each day we think we couldn’t love you more, but then we do. Amazing. Thank you for the little blessing that you are to us, without even trying. I pray that the Lord gives us many many many more birthdays together, all three of us.

We love you so much, sugar bear!

Mommy

Here is a picture of Piper, her best friend LB (check out the left hand), her other best friend Paci, some good-looking bed head, and our latest baby-related purchase: crib railing protectors. You-Know-Who likes to stand up in her crib while waiting for us to rescue her from nap/bedtime. She’s also cutting molars and jamming any and everything into her mouth to try to soothe those sweet and tender little gums. Not a good combination if you’re a crib with an almost-one-year-old inside. Not a good combination if you’re the belly of that almost-one-year-old. Enter soft and fluffy crib railing protectors.

My brother-in-law, Dave Wiener, is a manager for UBS and was recently named Managing Director, which is a pretty big deal in that industry. I’m not entirely certain what it means, but I know it’s a real honor, and we are thrilled for him. He’s not just a great manager, though. He also takes his other jobs pretty seriously…  He’s a really great husband to Lizzie and a wonderful daddy to Stella, Cece and Luke. And he’s pretty fun to have around on Thanksgiving.

In light of this huge recognition, we wanted to send Dave a note of Congratulations and let him know how proud of him we are.  I told Piper to get her cheerleading gear and best smile together and meet me at the backyard swing. The above photo was the best we could do. Notice the rip in the sign. That’s how the tape dispenser ended up in the mouth. From there it was pretty downhill, so I just used what God gave us and pasted this picture on a card.

Congratulations, Dave!

I took this picture of Piper three weeks ago and never posted it.  The coat is a Christmas present from Uncle David and Miss Keri; the hat is a hand-me-down from Aunt Lizzie, so it either belonged to Stella or Cece or both.  This picture is too cute to get lost in the shuffle, so here it is.  All by itself.  Without my typical novel to accompany it.