On this day a year ago, the doctor held up a 9lb 2oz baby to me and announced “you have one of these!”
And I’m like “what, a three-month-old baby?”
“oh, you mean a girl”.
She was huge. She was a girl. And she was laying on my chest staring at me with the most intense brown eyes I’d ever seen. I had that feeling that you can’t adequately put into words, but we try with things like “connection”, “deep”, “profound” and “primal”.
She was a dream baby. She still is. She’s placid, she’s serious, she’s delightful, she’s funny and she’s adorable.
She sleeps well, eats well and only occasionally pulls the cat’s whiskers.
She’s everything people say that children are, and she’s brought so much to us that we never could have guessed we would be blessed with.
Cliche, cliche, cliche. They’re all true.
And today she is one.
She can say “gentle”, “ta”, “thank you”, “hello” and “dad dad”.<
She pulls herself up on everything but isn't ready to walk yet.
Last night she speared a piece of pumpkin with a fork and brought it to her mouth.
She likes music, and will dance any time there's anything remotely rhythmic on
She loves swimming and baths, drawing, throwing books around and putting blocks into square holes.
She follows me everywhere I go and has breakfast with her dad every morning.
She has eight teeth and just enough hair to put in an unnecessary but incredibly cute pony tail.
She likes clapping and Giggle and Hoot.
And she is mine.
Happy first birthday, Veggie Baby.
You make a lot of people very happy.
xx
How exciting! Enjoy your day. Happy birthday veggiebaby! xxxx
Happy, happy birthday to your beautiful girl. I still remember where I was when I heard she was born. x
Oh, she is gorgeous. Happy birthday! Nice sleeve work on the swing pusher too.. 🙂
Happy Birthday Veggie Baby … You are incredibly blessed to have the mama that you have x And Stace? That fork thing and the pumpkin? My fave baby milestone. Congrats to you – you do babies very well!
Making me cry before 9am? That's it, I'm outta here.
Happy Birthday Abby!!! Where the hell did that year go? I remember waiting for the news, refreshing twitter every five seconds, the anticipation and the excitement!.. I continue with the true clichés!
Congrats to you too mama, your doing an amazing job. Xxxx
Happy Birthday Veggie Baby! You are delightful, and my computer screen is always brighter when you appear on it!
She's wonderful that's for sure! More than a bit like her Mama. What an ace job you and your Mr have done in raising this gorgeous little girl. Happy Birthday Abby. Xxxx
Happy Birthday Little Lady! So beautifully said. She inherited so much of her parents' gentleness. Crying before 9am, but in a good way xoxoxo
Happy Birthday Veggie Baby!
And thanks for sharing her milestones Stacey, I look forward to experiencing these with my future children.
xx
Happy birthday Abby xxx she's just a bundle of awesomeness xxx
LOVE. Happy Birthday to all of you.
x
Oh i got goose bumps reading that oxo
Happy birthday veggie baby, you are adorable! Well done Mama for making such a cute little human being. She sounds like she would be great friends with Poppy they could have a dancing play date where they clap themselves while watching Giggle and Hoot. Heavenly.
I am feeling a 'how can she be one' – you know, it's part of the family of 'how can I have a 14 year old and two sons in high school' category.
Oh man. it's ridiculous.
Haha famous before she'd even poked her head out. Thank you so much x
Thank you so much 🙂
Hahah that would be Veggie Dad. He does tattoos extremely well.
You are so very kind. I was standing spellbound in the kitchen, watching her. She's a special little girl! Much love xx
Aw it's so nice to hear that… thank you. I was gunning for a whole twitter labour until, you know, I started bellowing in the bathtub and swearing at everyone who wouldn't turn my syntocinon off.
Oh what a lovely thing to say! Will have to play with Lior soon xx
Oh and they're going to be way more amazing when you do! xx
Oh I'm being ridiculous. Damn hormones. Everything she does today is extra special and extra cute. Sigh. Thanks for being there every step of the way xx
Oh that would be cute overload and the world would implode! Thank you so much xx
Just make sure you're around for Magnelley's first birthday next September xx
I honestly don't know where it comes from. My hands type stuff. I couldn't even describe what I actually felt so I can't be that good haha!
I know they say they grow up fast, but um… oh my god. Soon I will be talking about high school and buying shotguns and telling boys on the phone she's not home. It's mind-blowing.
Happy 1st birthday Veggie Baby! In the Netherlands the whole family gets congratulated when someone has a birthday, and if you have a party, everyone goes around and congratulates every single person for the person celebrating the birthday, so congratulations to you and Veggie Dad dad 🙂 Beautiful post Stacey xx
Oh my gosh, what a fun tradition! Congratulations everyone for celebrating! I like that… but I'm a bit selfish, if it's MY birthday, then only I'M allowed to get the attention! But today everyone gets to celebrate, it's an awesome family milestone. Thanks so much for sharing xx
My hubby is a 'collector of fine ink' too. Though we are limited by a lack of decent artists here.
I only have the one, which my 6mth old slaps and makes the same noise she makes for the dog…
Yay Veggie Baby! I actually still remember exactly what I was doing the morning I read your tweet announcing that she'd arrived – I remember thinking how much I loved her name. Happy birthday beautiful girl xxx
Happy first birthday Veggie Baby!
I started reading your blog when I read about it in Peppermint magazine, ANYWAY I had to say Happy Birthday to your little one, she is so cute! My baby girl turned one in January and it goes so fast. I have another one starting school next year!
I love your blog and this is a great post I felt the same way when my babies turned one.
She is gorgeous. She makes me ache for more babies. Happy birthday Veggie Baby! Hope you're having a fabulous day.
Happy birthday Veggie Baby. Hope you all have a wonderful day. x
Happy Birthday Veggie Baby! Today must be a wonderful day to be born because everywhere I look it's someone's birthday – including my dads!
I can't believe it was a whole year ago! She's so big now. And so beautiful 🙂
hahah we're very spoiled here. I got a magnificent piece in Brisbane and I doubt I'll ever go anywhere else now!
Thank you!
Oh, welcome! I hope you've enjoyed it so far. I can't believe how fast this has gone, and with another arriving soon it'll be flying by. I wish I could put into words all the amazingness she has brought.
Oh my gosh, I know of two others' too! Excellent day.
awwww! happy birthday beautiful veggie baby!
Happy birthday to the cutest veggie baby ever!!! Xxxx
Happy birthday Veggie Baby! I got so teary reading this *cluck cluck*
Happy Birthday Abby Lee. You're beautiful, and I'm so glad you came into the lives of your mum and dad. You might not think so in 15 year's time, but you've got awesome parents!
xx
Yes yes yes!
This time I won't gawk at you silently. Ok, maybe I will, but I will talk to you at some point too.
Happy Birthday to the cutest baby Vegetable in the whole world.
You are blessed in every way growing up in a safe home with parents that love you and I hope your mummy keeps this post forever so you can read it back when you are older and understand the connection and love that you have with your Mumma.
Congratulations Stacey on such a lovely little girl and recovering from such a large baby. (from another in the club of huge baby's 🙂
x Loulou
Happy Birthday Abby Lee, beautiful post Veggie Mama x
Happy birthday, little Vegetable Sprout! Toooooooooo cute! ^_^
Oh that is so sweet! Happy birthday gorgeous girl! x
She is such a doll. What a blessing she is! Oh….and I had a 9lb 2 oz whopper too! You'll never guess which one of the Holden girls clocked in at that massive weight!…. Petite little Lauren! She's tiny now but she was a biggin at birth! Lol
Happy birthday, little Veggie Baby! xx
Thank you! She had a great day xx
Until september!
I used to get teary reading your letters to Tricky xx
You're so sweet! I'll keep reminding her 😉
haha we all do weird things in social situations xx
Oh my – not even sure I've recovered yet! And have to do it all over again very soon! Thank you so much, I hope she thinks we're all right 🙂
Microherb!
Thank you so much!
Thanks aunty holly!
Happy Birthday little one! Wishing you, your mama, your “dad dad” and your teeny, tiny sibling a wonderful new year of adventures and happiness together. (You are ridiculously adorable!)
Katie x
oh my god that just made me tear up. CUTE! Thank you so much xx
Happy happy birthday Veggie Baby! x
Thank yooouuuu!
happy birthday, lil' one!!!!
Thank yoooooou!