Happy 1st Birthday, Helena!

If you were to posit that Jan and I are ecstatically happy every day we get to spend with this vivacious, cooing, bubbling little girl that lives with us, you would be only about half correct. As the cool, gray, convergent June night skies cleared last year over our little burg, a cherubic (and hairy) vestige of Heaven appeared before us. At that moment Jan and I felt as if the world started over and everything and everyone in it hushed for a heartbeat before feeling the presence of Helena rippling into being.

Yes, yes, Janet had some pushing. And there were stitches and blood, too. Oh, and the series of shots; the dark, dark black of the meconium, and the pain. I think there might have been a little bit of pain that night...

But the "ecstatically happy" only started that 20th day of June 2007. It was just the baseline feeling of new, inexperienced parents. Now, as this first year whistles by us, a mere "ecstatically happy" just doesn't cut it. Each day brings a new smile, a new (gurgily) word, a new tooth, a new laugh. Each day. And every new thing is countless levels beyond simple happiness. It's finally seeing our love incarnate and climbing on the sofa. And who can measure that?

Happy Birthday, Helena!


Pictures H E R E. Helena shows off her new furniture for tea parties from Gramma and Granpa Zura, eats her first piece of cake, plays with Uncle RobRob, and makes Mommy and Daddy giddy.