Party Like It's 2008

Zora wasn't the only one celebrating her first birthday. Here are pix from Jayden's (Mauricia's grandson) first birthday party. Mauricia and her family were kind enough to invite us over for the festivities, which included piles of melt-in-your-mouth tamales, muy delicioso grilled meat, and a cookies 'n cream ice cream cake with Jayden's photo emblazoned on it. Oh yes, and a pinata. How many babies does it take to crack open a pinata? Zero: babies don't know what the heck a pinata is.

Vital Stats: One Year (!)

Height: 30 3/4 in.
Weight: 21 lbs.
Head circumference: 18 1/4 in.
Teeth: Five (two vampire teeth, one front tooth, two bottom teeth)

New tricks:

• Constant babbling. Can say, "Ma ma ma" and "Da da da";
• understands what to do when Mauricia says, "Besitos!" (throw kisses);
• loves loves loves looking at photos of herself and cousin Harper;
• standing, then lifting her arms over her head and twirling her hands in circles (Look! I stuck the landing!);
• standing and taking a few drunken sailor steps towards Mommy or Daddy;
• can suck sugar-filled smoothies through a straw and stay up until 9;
  
• pretending that Cheerios are tiddly winks and launching them with her index finger from her high chair; and,
• Skinning a blueberry in 30 seconds flat.

Favorite book:

• Dr. Seuss's The Tooth Book. We read this every day at least four times a day.

Favorite foods:

• Cubed tofu
• Aforementioned blueberries
• Yogurt
• Anything that we're eating

Zora thinks it's really funny when:

• Daddy lets her "walk" on the ceiling;
• We hide behind something then scare her; and
• We wave a latex glove in her face then suddenly inflate it (Really. She was in hysterics at the doctor's office.)

It's My Birthday!

Each night after I place Zora in her crib and while she's still blinking up at me with her huge, gooey brown eyes, I tell her, "Goodnight, baby girl. I love you. I'm so glad that you are part of our lives."

Sure, we got her some presents and she smashed a perfectly gorgeous little cupcake to smithereens, but this little creature has given me more than a shelf-full of self help books and hours of meditation could offer: she's taught me to be in the moment.

I saw her face when she smelled her first rose, ate her first bite of apples and mangoes, and took her first steps towards me: pure joy. Her flashing, dimpled grin embodies a Neil Simon quote I recently read: "I love living. I have some problems with my life, but living is the best thing they've come up with so far."

Happy birthday, baby girl.

Get Up, Stand Up, Stand Up Little Girl