Happy 1st Little Pig

Sweetest little Pig,

I don't think I'll have the recovered from the fact that you're 1 until I find myself celebrating your 2nd birthday. Blink of an eye and you went from a little puffy worm to a cruising, gleeful little person already with definite likes and dislikes. In the early, bleary-eyed days following your birth, I found myself thinking that I couldn't wait until you were older, but for the past few days, I've been poring over photos from those days, trying to recapture the plethora of emotions Dada and I experienced then, which I assure you, you'll hear about ad nauseum as you get older.
I've been thinking alot about this birthday letter. A recap of the past year seems unnecessary, the rest of the blog does that as do the many photos and videos we've taken of you. So, I think I'll tell you about some little things we've observed this year that I might neglect to tell you in the future. Maybe you'll think of them when I've grounded you and you're sulking and thinking that I'm the meanest person in the universe. Or perhaps I'm just gathering alot of guilt-trip material.

• I love your little downward glance as you examine something, whether it be some new snacks or a new crinkly toy. I can see your delicate lashes, your pink cheeks become very full and your little mouth forms into this little v-shape that never fails to delight me (think little muppet mouth). During your breastfeeding days, I remember waking up with you next to me and all I could see other than lashes and nose was that little muppet mouth.
• You used to snort like a little pig.
• I'm sure you didn't think it was amusing but there was nothing cuter than walking into your room where you had been crying for us to come rescue to see you standing in your little sleepsack, little face pink and indignant, fats tears coursing down the cheeks, mouth wide open.
• You used to have little curls, I swear it. When you woke up sweaty, your head was full of ringlets.
• When you'd get bored, you'd rip your pants off and throw them over the side of your crib or pack and play. Dada and I like to call if your "Pants Off, Dance Off."
• Emo's Shih Tzu dog Kobe loves you alot, in fact, it's more akin to sexual harassment. You have not returned his affections.
• You absolutely adore salmon, actually any fish, even anchovies, that's how I know that you're definitely mine.
• You like to eavesdrop on other diners when we go out to eat, that's how we know that you're definitely Dada's girl.
• Your little close-mouthed smile makes your eyes twinkle and absolutely kills me.
• Your huge open-mouthed grin absolutely shatters Dada.
• You seem to like Kirby the yellow lab, at least that's how we interpret your desire to pull his floppy ears and stick your fingers up his gummy pink nose.
• You laugh your head off when you watch Sesame Street.
• You love maracas, especially banging them on the floor.
• You like to poop at Costco and particularly when you're with Dada.
• The ladies at the Korean restaurant Goongjeon in Glen Burnie love you. Dada likes to parade you around there.
• When we turned your carseats around, you sat there cackling for awhile.

Your the spice in our kimchi, the potato in our pierogies, we love you to pieces babe, happy first birthday.

Love,

Umma