December 10th, 2011
One.
One year ago today, Maria Joy burst into our lives. Her dramatic arrival sometimes seems like just yesterday. . . and sometimes seem like six lifetimes ago. So much has happened in the past year, between Caleb’s graduation and job hunt, our move to Baltimore, a trip to Germany, and the adjustment to a new city.
Yes, it’s been quite a first year of life for Miss Maria Joy, or “Missy Miss,” “Gabi,” “Ria Ria,” “Baby Babes,” or even “Princess Face,” as she is sometimes known around here. There have been moments of extreme stress in learning to care for three children, balanced by moments of pure joy, like when Maria first started giving us her infectious morning smiles. We look forward to her little greetings of, “Hi!” and her belly laugh, but we also are thankful for her ability to play quietly by herself for ten minutes here or there. She is resilient and stands up to her big siblings, but she is also gentle and quick to give a little pat with a comforting “Ei, ei.” (“There, there.”) She’s slightly skeptical of strangers and has a calm but serious side before she warms up. Her mischievous side shines through when she pulls Mama’s hair or makes a beeline for an un-gated staircase.
We are so glad that Maria is a part of our family and can’t get enough of that seven-toothed grin and those slobbery kisses. Though we occasionally feel a twinge of nostalgia for the warmth and frailty of brand new life, we also relish the excitement of watching her discover her world and become her own person. I’m sure before we know it, she’ll be dancing in her big sister’s footsteps, but for now, we’re happy she’s just who she is: A bald, sweet little ONE year old.
Happy Birthday, Missy Miss. Alles Gute. Wir lieben Dich!
