My Baby Is One Today

I mean my real baby, my third child and only daughter, not my band. When my oldest son was born, people kept telling me the time would fly. Lemme tell you, it took about 17 years for that kid to hit three months old.

This year, probably because I've been busy with three kids rather than just one baby, has flown. I kept trying to remind myself to enjoy every minute because she is (probably) our last baby.

A year ago, I was in an operating room having surgery. The anesthesiologist had a thing for Motown (as do I) and "My Girl" came on just as my obstetrician showed me my red, screaming, messy newborn.

She has been my easiest baby, sweet and cuddly and darling from day one. She brings out the gentle, protective side of her lightsaber-wielding brothers. A stubborn streak is starting to emerge, and when she's mad she slams her head back onto the floor, just like her brother used to do. I'm smarter now, so I don't dive to protect her head. After a few good thunks she'll figure out it isn't in her best interest to keep it up.

So far, she's celebrated by gnawing on her toes and crawling up the stairs over and over. We're decorating the kitchen for a family pizza party, and the boys will help me decorate her cake.

Watching her grow this year, and seeing all three kids getting older and wiser and more observant, I am so grateful that I have this band to help me get healthier. I want to live long enough to see their kids torment them the way they do me.

On that topic, two of the extra pounds were gone this morning, and yesterday was a good eating day. I made a real effort to eat solids rather than sliders, and to eat whenever I was truly hungry. I took the kids to a diner last night, and I had two poached eggs and a few slices of bacon. Later, when my husband was having dinner at home, I had some olives and Pellegrino. (The bubbles don't bother me at all, btw.) I'll aim to do the same thing today, focusing on solid proteins.