Athena is 1!

Happy 1st birthday to my beautiful, sweet, bold, and social Athena Lee!

Dearest Athena, what a joy it has been to be your mother this year, and how absurd to think that we ever survived without you in our lives. From your perfect and rapid entry into the world one year ago today...


to your busy babbly one-year-old toddling...
your presence in our lives has been a constant source of light, love, and laughter. We all adore you.

Over this past year, we've begun to unwrap the gift of your bubbly little personality. While there's still so much we can't wait to find out about you, particularly as your budding language abilities continue to let us glimpse what's going on in your mind, the 1 year old goddess has already won us over with her many wonderful qualities...

You are BUSY. You love to move, and just in the past week have transitioned from crawling to walking as your primary mode of locomotion. You have an active brain and love to figure things out... putting blocks into things and taking them back out, banging on your little piano, pulling books and toys off of shelves. I've been noticing that you're usually not as content just sitting and reading a book... you like to be on the go. 

You are BOLD. You have very little fear of the unknown and love exploring new toys and activities. Climbing the stairs is one of your favorite activities... you keep us on our toes and if we forget to put up the gate and turn our backs for a second there's a good chance you'll be halfway upstairs when we find you, laughing heartily at your own sneakiness when we come grab you. You also love the water -- like your sister, you happily bob up and down and can "swim" underwater and come up with a big grin. You also love the splash park, where we held your birthday party this afternoon, and seem completely unperturbed by the blasts of cold water on your face and body. The world is yours to explore, and you explore it without hesitation.

You are SOCIAL. You love new faces and it seems entirely appropriate that the one word you say consistently at this age is "HI!" (Although you've also been learning lots of new words and signs... "milk," "more," "water," "hurt," and one of the cutest: "thank you!") You love to show off your two new big front teeth with your charming smiles. In your first year, you've let me go back to work and have spent time with Daddy, Ahya, Aunt Jen, Nana, and many babysitters, charming each one and bonding quickly with every caregiver. Still, you do have a special place in your heart for your mama, and the grins and cuddles you give me when I get home light up my days....

Because you are my second child, from the day you were born I have been acutely aware of how quickly you will grow up and how fleeting your tiny-ness is... Your big sister, who was once my little perfect baby, is now a little perfect 4 year old, and right now the most perfect thing about her is her complete and utter love for you. When you were in my belly, she sang songs to you about how excited she was to meet you and how much she wanted someone to play with at her house... one year ago today, when she came into the hospital room to meet you, her first question was, "Where's my baby?" She loves you more each moment, and I'm so excited that you're really beginning to be able to play together. The other day Mazie made up a game that involved you sitting on the couch while Mazie "hid" on the ground... she would say "Only the bear in the house... PEEK A BOO!" and pop up, and you would both erupt in fits of giggles. As your mama, there's nothing more wonderful than watching your relationship grow. Mazie has recently been telling us that she loves Daddy this much (hand at about eye level), Mama this much (hand just below Daddy level), and Athena THIS MUCH (hand as high as she can reach).

So I am acutely aware that my days at the top of your list are numbered. (You are still an enthusiastic and frequent nurser... so this is probably the primary reason you're still such a fan.) I have no doubt that over the next year, your love for your daddy and, especially, your big sister, will continue to grow, eventually eclipsing your love for me. So for now, as I say goodbye to my infant and welcome my cheerful toddler, I am soaking up every last minute of being your favorite, of the special bond I've shared with this little being who was a part of me for 9 months and who I've gotten to gaze at while you nursed every day for the past year. You are such a joy, my little goddess.

Happy First Birthday!

Love,
Mom

Here's more recent footage of the birthday girl:
Her birthday celebration at Community Park with friends and family...
 

Playing with her big sister...

At the splash park...

Just playin' around...

Entertaining us...