Wednesday was Harbour’s first birthday. I can’t believe how fast this first year passed – I feel like she just came into our lives a few months ago. When River turned one, I felt like a decade had passed, but with Harbour, time has flown by.

Our lives changed dramatically when River was born and each milestone that we reached felt like a hard-won victory. There was so much to learn and so many changes to make! Maybe that’s why we made a bigger deal out of things like birthdays. When River turned one, we had gifts and even a new dress. Harbour received just one gift from us and that was it – she didn’t get a special outfit. In fact, quite unintentionally, she wore the same dress I bought River for her first birthday (which I didn’t realize until roughly 20 minutes ago).

Harbour didn’t even get her own birthday decorations – I just added some hearts to the lanterns still up from River’s party (which will be coming down after Valentine’s Day, I promise).

I hope that Harbour never feels that we take her for granted though. She has been such a delight to have in our home. Her constant smile and good nature always lift my spirits and I feel blessed that she’s our daughter.

I remember the first year with River just being so hard, but a lot of that was me learning. River had to be patient while I learned about motherhood. She had to cry for many long nights before I tried cosleeping out of desperation. She had to insist on being carried for weeks before I discovered babywearing. She had to fight me and her doctors on food when she wasn’t ready to eat, despite being the “right age”. She had to cope with me taking on far too much when I enrolled in university and tried to do web design in my spare time. It took a long time for me to find my groove as a mom. Poor girl. She had to work hard to whip me into shape.

By the time Harbour was born three years later, I was a different person. My life was simpler and I enjoyed a far slower pace. I had learned to trust my instincts as a mother. Harbour slept in our bed from the first night (in fact, she was born in our bed). She came with me every where I went, usually snuggled close in a carrier. She fit nicely into the life we have created for ourselves. This past year with her has been easy, mostly because River has done a lot of the hard work.

Both girls seem well suited to the role they’ve been given in our family. Our headstrong firstborn teaches us how to be parents. Our happy, easy-going second child reminds us that parenting is a joy. I hope I don’t ever take either girl for granted.

Happy birthday, my little pixie girl! You may not have your own party decorations or birthday dress, but you have won your own special place in my heart!