One whole year. How did that happen.
🎵 Happy birthday to you 🎵 Happy birthday to you 🎶 Happy birthday dear Riley 🎶 🎵 Happy birthday to you!
You took two steps toward the cake, then sat down to reconsider the whole thing. Very you.
A year ago you fit in one arm. Today you threw cake at me with real accuracy. Time flies.
Happy birthday, Riley! One whole year, and you’ve already perfected the unimpressed look. Genuinely proud.
You and the dog have come to an arrangement: you run the trains, he guards the ball. Nobody has complained.
Your first Christmas. You won't remember a second of it, so here it is written down: the lights, the wrapping paper you liked more than the presents, everyone wanting a hold. You were the best thing under the tree.
Slept through the whole of Christmas dinner. Frankly the correct response to this family.
You wore the little reindeer suit for eleven minutes before objecting. A personal best.
Merry Christmas, Riley! Your first, and you were far more interested in the wrapping paper than anything inside it. Wise.
Your mom is asleep. You are asleep. I am writing this so I don’t forget how quiet the good kind of quiet is.
The practical one
0:11
Your dad cried when he told me your name. He will deny this. I have witnesses.
Four days in, and I already can’t remember what we talked about before you.
I started knitting you a blanket before I knew you. It suits you.
The morning we met
0:12
You have your mom’s frown already. She used to give me that exact look. Welcome, I suppose.
Two thirty in the morning
0:17
Your whole hand around one of my fingers. I’m calling it a hug.
Meet Riley
Your first morning. You slept through absolutely all of it.
You arrived at ten past six this morning, and the whole family was awake by seven. You were wanted long before you were here.
The very first picture of you, from the twenty-week scan. Keeping us all waiting even then.