first birthday

Iris's birthday weekend began with a trip to the cardiology and pulmonary team. Actually, it began on Thursday evening with my dad arriving from New Mexico for the weekend. He helped on Friday with cleaning up the house and also went with us to her clinic appointment.

Evan took off work early so he could be at the appointment in person (he usually attends by phone). Since getting back from Texas, Evan had been particularly preoccupied with the idea that we would have to move to lower elevation so that Iris could have a normal life. It was discouraging to us both to have to put her back on oxygen, and since returning she still has higher oxygen requirements.

After doing a chest x-ray to look at the lungs and an echo to look at the heart the doctors assured us that everything looks good on her and that we shouldn't be discouraged by her continuing reliance on supplemental oxygen. It seems that babies continue to develop lung capacity--more alveoli develop--well into childhood. At this point her heart seems to be working well so we don't have to go back to see the cardiologists for another six months, but we will continue on the 3-month track with the pulmonary team.

All this was enough to convince Evan that we did not have to start planning the move away from Denver, and we could continue with the plan to do a raised-bed garden out in the backyard.

On Saturday we had her first birthday party. Evan made red beans and rice and hummus. I made some of Iris's favorite items -- curried mushrooms and onions, sauteed zucchini. Jill made Iris's birthday cake for us. I had been planning to make some kind of fruit dish for her, but then decided it would be okay for her to have her first taste of cake. Jill decorated the cake with blue and green icing since these are my favorite colors. (She didn't tell me she was going to do this, but she did ask me what my favorite colors were earlier in the week, so it can't be a coincidence.)

Jill, Dara, Sarah, Iris in the kitchen with the cake. photo credit: Nelson Hoffman

The party was a lot of fun -- it was the first time we had hosted a large group of people in Denver and both Evan and I realized how much we miss having frequent social gatherings at our home. Here's to having a summer full of social gatherings.

Janna brought the youngest party-goer -- Bianca is just five weeks old. Iris was pretty interested in her and tried to give her a York peppermint patty.

Iris and Bianca. photo credit: Nelson Hoffman

 It was hard to get Iris to stay still for the cake and singing.

photo credit: Nelson Hoffman

 The actual eating of the cake was anti-climactic. She liked the cake and took some of it and continued to run around the room, but she did not squeal with delight and smash her hands or face into it.

The first taste of cake. photo credit: Nelson Hoffman

Running with cake in hand.
photo credit: Nelson Hoffman

Iris continued to run around outside where the frisbee players were hanging out. It seems that she is going to be a girl after her father's heart.

Running with frisbee.
photo credit: Nelson Hoffman

Running with frisbee.
photo credit: Nelson Hoffman

So. After a year, Iris's favorite things to eat are bananas, strawberries, kiwi, yogurt, cheese, Cheerios, curried onions and mushrooms, tomato sauce, and red beans and rice. She loves to read books, play with her toys, take baths, and roam around upstairs. She is walking very well--toddling, I guess you would say. And can also walk backwards and keep her balance while bending over to pick up a toy. She knows a few signs: "birdie," "all done," "more," and "help." She doesn't use them with great regularity, but she does know them. She also just learned how to throw her hands up into the air when someone asks her, "Iris, how big are you?"

Now that I think about it, her birthday celebrations probably began on Thursday night. Evan and I went back to the photos and video we have from a year ago. Yes, we have a film of her birth. I know, too much information, right? It was really incredible to watch and to relive so many of the emotions. Those early days feel so far away and they have passed so quickly by. That's what they all say...but that doesn't keep it from being true.

I'm thrilled to have a one-year old and revel in each new word she learns and sound she makes. She has recently taken to hugging our legs while we stand in the kitchen preparing breakfast. It's enough to make up for all the sleepless nights.