Wow - What a Year...

I know I've said it so many times before, but each time I truly am amazed... I can't believe how fast this past year has gone by. I can't believe our little girl is a year old! So now when people ask me how old she is, I'm going to have to start talking in years as opposed to months! "Oh, my daughter? She's one." That's it... not one month, not one week away from 11 months, just one. I can't believe it! Although I see her everyday and see her growing up right before my eyes, here's how I really see her in my heart...
My little angel! Marvin & I have truly been blessed with such a gift. She's so sweet, so innocent, so trusting, so fragile, so wholesome. I just can't explain to you what this past year has done for me. I have learned so many things... things about myself, things about Maja, things about being a parent, things about Marvin, things I thought I knew. I have learned that although I'm Maja's mom, I don't control her. She is so her own little person. She has her own thoughts, her own likes and dislikes, her own way of doing things, her own habits and her own good and bad days just like everyone else I know. I have also learned that patience is an amazing thing. There are some days I have it, and some I don't. I have learned that although you do the same things each day, no two days will be alike (no matter how hard you try to replicate the day before because she slept well that night...). I have learned a new respect for parents, mostly my parents and Marvin's. I have learned what unconditional love means. I have learned that I love my husband more than I ever thought possible. And I have learned to be a kid again - and I love it! :) So thank you Maja, for teaching me all these wonderful things over the past year. Happy Birthday baby, we love you! Ok... so now that I've dried my eyes and can see the monitor clearly again, Marvin, Maja & I want to wish two other special ladies Happy Birthday. First, we want to say

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!

Yup, Maja shares her birthday with her Grandma. As wonderful as it was to be able to give my mom her first granddaughter for her birthday last year, it sure does make it hard to find something this year! :) And second, we want to say

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY MAJA G!

Maja G... Thanks for the special birthday wishes on your blog and we can't to see you on both Saturday & Sunday!

So how did our little Maja spend her first birthday?!? First, Maja got to open her gift from Teta Linda before Teta had to head off to work. Teta bought her a cool pair of Puma soccer shoes! They are going to look great with Maja's new jeans! Here's a shot of Maja modelling the shoes this morning (Maja didn't want to wear any clothes for this shot (other than the diaper, of course) because she felt they would take away from the shoes)...Then we were off to Mississauga to see Grandma & Grandpa and have breakfast with them. We had a great time! Maja got to read the sweet book and play with the cool bus and blocks Grandma & Grandpa got her for her birthday right there at the breakfast table! Maja even got to try a birthday cupcake from Grandma, but much to all of our surprise, she was not interested in it at all! It must have been because it wasn't chocolate. That's my girl! :) Here's a shot of all of us after breakfast was finished (as you can tell, Maja was itching to get back to playing with her new toys) - left to right: Maja, Grandma, Daddy, and Grandpa peeking out from behind my huge head...
When we got back from breakfast, there was a great message from Auntie, Uncle Mike, Will, Graham, Peter & Anna wishing Maja a Happy Birthday. Maja loved listening to them all sing for her! Then after grabbing a quick nap, it was off to lunch with Bakica! We decided to have lunch at the hall that Marvin & I got married at just over 3 years ago. So after learning that Maja wasn't into the sweet things like her birthday cupcake, Marvin decided to try her on something sour. Here's a sequence of priceless photos of Maja and her reaction to sucking a "birthday lemon". She already looks a bit apprehensive here...
"Ewww that's sour, Daddy!"...
"Oh my gosh... that's down right disgusting!"...

"Ok.... that is quite possibly the worse thing I've ever tasted in my life!"...
"What did I just eat?!?"...
Then after eating our lemons (and our lunch), we headed back home to "try" and have a nap but no such luck... so instead we had a quick photo shoot with Bakica...
Anyhow, after a very busy day, Maja has finally gone to sleep only to wake up tomorrow at the big ol' age of one year and a day! :( Thanks so much to all of you who called, stopped by or emailed to wish Maja a Happy Birthday!