OMG Twelve.
To my littlest friend,
One year ago today, the best little write-off ever was born. (Happy tax day AND birthday, Birdy!) No ... okay, I'll be serious. Because, as we know, your mama is totally serious. You and I have never had burping contests. Nope.
Ahem. So yes, a year ago, you were born. You came out after a short but tough eight months and one week of pregnancy, the first scheduled c-section at Beth Israel that morning. Type 1 diabetes, Factor V leiden, retinopathy, pre-eclampsia, and hospitalization tried to shake our determination, but you and I held steady. And the moment you were born, your cry filled that operating room that once held 14 plus people, but in that moment, just held you, me, and Daddy.
I knew life with you was going to be so different and amazing, but I didn't realize how profoundly you had changed me until I caught myself talking to you about how I cannot stand the Charmin bears because they show their toilet paper bits to television viewing audiences. And you giggled in agreement. Or when we sang the song about "Fat Bird the Clown (FBTC)" in the grocery store. And then danced while daddy juggled lemons. You have given me the confidence to be a silly mom in public, and you make me feel like even my non-rhyming, makes-no-sense lyrics are worth singing. You make me feel like I'm doing something very, very right.
Birdy, you amaze me. I love watching you learn how the world works, when your little brow furrows as you try and figure out how to stack the blocks or open the cupboard or sneak up on the cats without them noticing. (They always notice.) We get to watch you discover how words are assigned to things, and what sounds fit where. You've started pointing at things you recognize, babbling words like "birdy," "kitty," and "mama." Your voice is high and squeaky, and your giggle is cut from the same vocal cloth.
I want to tell you how much you mean to me, but there aren't the right words for this yet. I want to tell you that i would do anything for you, and would sacrifice my entire being to make sure you are always safe, but it never feels like enough. I love you like I've known you all my life. Because, somehow, I have. You've always been what I've wanted most, and now that you're here and I can hug you, my life feels better. Fuller. Like that spot was filled that I didn't even realize was empty.
I love you, my baby birdzone. You show me that there is plenty to smile about in the world.
Happy first birthday.
Love,
Mommy.
Comments
Happy Birthday Sweet BSparl!
Happy 1 year Anniversary of Mommyhood Kerri!
Posted by: Penny | April 15, 2011 09:04 AM
Kerri, thanks for sharing the adorable pictures of BSparl they are a joy to look at. I hope all of you enjoy her first ever birthday.
Posted by: Bernard Farrell | April 15, 2011 09:06 AM
Happy happy first birthday, BSparl. Your mom is definitely doing something (a lot of somethings) very very right!! :)
Love, Auntie Knitter
Posted by: Karen | April 15, 2011 09:09 AM
Happy, happy birthday sweet girl and congrats to her mom & dad on such a wonderful year!
(OMG this post makes me absolutley ITCH to meet my girl!)
xo!
Posted by: Lindsay R | April 15, 2011 09:18 AM
I still can't believe they are one... ONE! Happy Birthday to B and congratulations on one fantastic year for you Kerri. I can't wait to see what the rest of our lives hold :)
Posted by: Suzanne | April 15, 2011 09:18 AM
Sparling Bird -
Happy Birthday!!!
Posted by: k2 | April 15, 2011 09:20 AM
Happy Bird-day! That smile makes everything better, and I've never even seen it in person. (maybe in July???)
Posted by: Auntly H | April 15, 2011 09:20 AM
What a great way to start off the day reading that post!! Happy 1st birthday BSparl from all of your Mom's DOC friends!
Posted by: Kevin | April 15, 2011 09:29 AM
beautiful! happy birthday, bsparl!
today is my grandparents' 61st anniversary too! :)
Posted by: Jess | April 15, 2011 09:29 AM
Happy Birthday!!
She is amazingly beautiful! My little girl turned 9 recently and it feels like yesterday that she was banging on pots and pans in the kitchen.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 15, 2011 09:34 AM
Wow where did that first year go? Congratulations on your first birthday little Miss Sparling!
Posted by: Amanda | April 15, 2011 09:34 AM
Happy Birthday BSparl! Kerri, I hope that you and BSparl spend many more happy birthdays together, and have many, many more happy years ahead. :) Congratulations on a wonderful, amazing first year, both Kerri and BSparl!
Posted by: Aliza Chana | April 15, 2011 09:35 AM
Happy Birthday! How exciting today must be! BSparl looks like she is only a cutie the movies could create! She is STUNNINGLY adorable! I love those tiny teeth :) Im still not sure we will ever find the words to explain our love for our children...
Posted by: Kelly | April 15, 2011 09:53 AM
So, so sweet. Happy Birthday, little bird!
Posted by: Jasmine | April 15, 2011 09:56 AM
And the incredible thing is: It only gets better.
I am also so happy to hear someone else is grossed out by the Charmain bears.
Posted by: Moira | April 15, 2011 09:58 AM
Happy Birthday, BSparl and family!! Hope it is a great one!
Posted by: Scott | April 15, 2011 10:05 AM
Oh she is just adorable! Happy birthday little one :)
Posted by: caramaena | April 15, 2011 10:06 AM
Happy Birthday, BSparl!!
Posted by: Jessica | April 15, 2011 10:07 AM
Wonderful!
Posted by: Steve Woodruff | April 15, 2011 10:10 AM
I cannot believe it's been a year since that sweet baby was born! Happy Birthday to both of you! :D
Posted by: Sara | April 15, 2011 10:12 AM
Happy Birthday BSparl! Wow, time has flown. I can't believe she's already one year old!
I hope you guys have a wonderful time on her birthday :)
Posted by: Kyla | April 15, 2011 10:15 AM
Happy Birthday BSparl! What adorable pics! You and her are such inspirations to us other type 1's wanting to have a baby! Have a great day!
Posted by: Jenny | April 15, 2011 10:19 AM
I remember when Shaun was little and we would be driving in the car I would sing to him. Until he learned to talk and told me not to make that noise anymore.
Anyway Happy Birthday BSparl! you are as beautiful as your mommy. We all watched and waited for you to get here I am amazed you have been here for a year already. But I am sure We will be watching for the years to so come so enjoy sweetheart!
Posted by: Denise | April 15, 2011 10:19 AM
A very very Happy Birthday to BSparl. And a special pensée for her maman! Have a wonderful day!
Posted by: Brigitte Roy | April 15, 2011 10:21 AM
Holy freaking tear jerker! She's amazingly beautiful. Happy first (omgalready?) Birthday Miss BSparl!
Posted by: sarah | April 15, 2011 10:25 AM
Hoooooray for B Sparl! Happy Birthday! And thank you to your fun mama for giving us a peak at your adorable little self! :) Have a fun weekend!!
Posted by: Windy | April 15, 2011 10:29 AM
Happy birthday to the Birdster!
Posted by: Allison Blass | April 15, 2011 10:32 AM
As an almost 19 year old living with type one I have found your blog very inpiring for quite a while now. I loved folowing your journey of becoming a mother and since she was born :) I found it very exciting last year when she was born one day before my birthday :) Happy Birthday to your little princess!!!!!!!
Posted by: Leanna | April 15, 2011 10:34 AM
This made me emotional for some reason (what's new)!!! She is truly such a beautiful child...and every word you wrote was straight from a mommy's heart!! Happy First Year BSparl!!!!
Posted by: Kimberly | April 15, 2011 10:36 AM
Motherhood is amazing...Grandmotherhood is even better!!
Happy Birthday to you all!!
Posted by: Jeanne | April 15, 2011 10:40 AM
Happy 1st Birthday beautiful BSparl. Your mommy is so sweet to share you and your antics, so I feel as if I know you.
Enjoy the cupcakes!
Posted by: Nell | April 15, 2011 11:01 AM
Beautiful post and a beautiful girl! Happy Birthday!
Posted by: tracy | April 15, 2011 11:31 AM
The happiest of birthdays to the happiest of Birdies! Give her a kiss from me and my munchkin.
Posted by: MelissaBL | April 15, 2011 11:41 AM
Happy birthday to the little Rhode Island bird :)
Posted by: Rachel | April 15, 2011 11:43 AM
Happy Birthday!!
Posted by: Robin | April 15, 2011 11:45 AM
Happy Birthday to BSparl! This was a wonderful post!
Posted by: Nicole | April 15, 2011 12:02 PM
She's BEAUTIFUL! Happy Happy Birthday :)
It's so hard to believe how fast the time has gone since my firstborn was 12 months....then D came at 24 months....wow. Life just keeps moving, but I wouldn't trade a second of it.
Posted by: Wendy | April 15, 2011 12:44 PM
AWESOME! Happy Birthday little one!
Posted by: Alicia | April 15, 2011 12:45 PM
Happy birthday birdie! BSparl haz a cute ;)
Posted by: Kathy | April 15, 2011 12:48 PM
Happpy birthday! She is beautiful!
Posted by: Lauren | April 15, 2011 12:54 PM
Happy Happy Birthday to sweet BSparl and Congratulations to you and Chris! YOU DID IT Kerri, be so proud of all you've accomplished but mostly of this adorable, precious, amazing little person!
Posted by: Deb | April 15, 2011 01:31 PM
All kinds of love and goodness and giggles and joy and fun and sprinkles, to BSparl and her mama and daddy today. CONGRATULATIONS!
Posted by: Sarah | April 15, 2011 01:56 PM
Happy Birthday BSparl.
Posted by: SuperG | April 15, 2011 01:57 PM
Happy 1st birthday BSparl!! What a beautiful little girl she's becoming :)
Posted by: Stacey D. | April 15, 2011 02:33 PM
Happy Birth-Day to you both!
Posted by: Zak | April 15, 2011 02:49 PM
Kerri, you have THE MOST BEAUTIFUL kid ever!! Seriously, I just wanna hug her! Happy birthday, BSparl and congratulations, Kerri!
Posted by: Miriam | April 15, 2011 03:23 PM
awwww...what a doll baby...I can't believe she is 1 already...happy birthday!
Posted by: Michelle Herrig | April 15, 2011 04:25 PM
Hey, that kid is wicked cute. Congrats on the first year!
Posted by: kassie | April 15, 2011 04:52 PM
That is one seriously cute little madam you have there. Hope you all enjoyed the birthday!
Posted by: Annette | April 15, 2011 05:25 PM
Hppy birthday to you happy birhday dear bsprawl happy birthday to you!! and many more!
And congrats Kerri. you are such an insperation to me.:):):):):):):):):):)
Posted by: dtechnobuterfly | April 15, 2011 05:32 PM
Congrats Kerri and Chris! YAY to baby bird you are growing up so fast!!! Enjoy her fun and special day!
Posted by: cassie | April 15, 2011 05:45 PM
What a sweet post. She will cherish posts like this when she's older :) happy first birthday BSparl! :D
Posted by: Kaitake | April 15, 2011 06:40 PM
Happy Birthday BSparl!
Posted by: Cynthia | April 15, 2011 08:55 PM
Happy Birthday, Birdie!!! You're growing so fast & in no time you'll grow into the great person your family is teaching you to be. You've got some wonderful parents and a whole lot of fabulous aunts & uncles (with & without diabetes)to show you the way. So keep smiling, BSparl!!!!!! :)
Posted by: PrincessLadyBug | April 15, 2011 09:21 PM
HUGE happy birthday to your absolutely BEAUTIFUL little girl!!!! You are one amazing mommy!!!! Thank you for being such an inspiration to all of us!
Posted by: Tamara | April 15, 2011 10:12 PM
Happy Birthday Birdie !!!! This almost made me cry. I am hoping to have a little one of my own soon.
Posted by: Tarra | April 16, 2011 12:19 AM
Happy birthday you absolutely, adorable thing!! You have your mother's same very sweet, happy smile.
Thanks for sharing your day, Kerri. I'm so happy for your entire family!!! :)
Posted by: diagnosed in 86 also, just a little older ;) | April 16, 2011 01:35 AM
Thank you guys so much for the BSparl birthday wishes! We had a wonderful day celebrating with her, and now we're moving into Year Two. :)
Much love!!
Posted by: Kerri. | April 16, 2011 08:58 AM
Best. Pictures. EVAR!!!
Posted by: Scott K. Johnsons | April 16, 2011 02:23 PM
Parenthood can definitely change our perspective on life. So happy for you!
Posted by: Peter | April 16, 2011 09:51 PM
What a beautiful post. A very happy birthday to your little one. The pix are adorable.
Posted by: D | April 16, 2011 11:22 PM
Great pics and what a darling little girl...happy b-day...
Posted by: Ty Bolton | April 17, 2011 12:11 AM
Happy Birthday sweetie! :) Too cute!
I love you guys!
Best mom ever!
Posted by: Kiri | April 17, 2011 12:51 PM
Such a princess!
Happy birthday!
Posted by: Diamamma | April 17, 2011 06:22 PM
Ah, look at that little muffin.
Happy birthday Birdie!
Posted by: Leighann of D-Mom Blog | April 17, 2011 11:33 PM
Wow.. that was great. Made me cry. Thanks for sharing. I have a 12 year old daughter dignosied Dec 2009. Love reading your blogs and telling her about them. Happy Birthday Birdie!!Thanks again!
Posted by: Kelly H Broyles | April 18, 2011 09:11 AM
You have a delightful daughter! Thanks for your work with a diabetes blog--a friend suggested I check it out.
Posted by: Sage | April 19, 2011 09:26 PM
Is BSparl talking?????
Posted by: Anonymous | April 21, 2011 08:15 PM