It's been a whirlwind of a year since our daughter was born (well, 11 months as of this post), that feels like it's gone by in the blink of eye, and yet painfully, excruciatingly slowly all at the same time. I've grown rather fond of using the phrase "the longest, shortest time" to describe this point in my life. The days drag on and on, blending into ceaseless, unending nights, which give way to what feels like the shortest year of my life.
It's a magical experience watching another person grow up, especially when that person happens to be your child. You feel like you're barely keeping your head above water most the time in the early months, gasping for air and any sort of break from the demands of this tiny human who can't be reasoned with because she doesn't understand the fundamental concept of "reason". It's weird how it feels like yesterday that my child was, for all intents and purposes, essentially a potato:
Taken at 1 week old. That's one cute potato.
I don't mean to use the term potato in a derogatory sense, she just didn't do much, like a potato. She pretty much just laid there and stared at us, with unblinking, out of focus eyes that shifted colours like the aurora borealis.
When I look at these "old" photos of my little girl, I almost don't recognize her anymore. She looks like someone else entirely, which makes me think of her passport photo, taken at 2 weeks old, which looks nothing like her, and makes me laugh when I think about her using this passport in the future when she's 5 years old.
I mean, seriously, look at this thing
It's so bizarre watching her grow up. It's incredible, seeing her basically transform into an entirely different person over the span of a year. She's metamorphised from her potato form into a tiny person, learning to walk, tackling the cat, yanking on my beard and throwing down sign language like she's in some sort of street gang. She's learned so much so fast, and I can't wait to see where she goes next.
But in addition to all of this, Crystal and I have grown a lot as well. I can't speak for Crystal, but I feel like I've aged a couple years in the span of one, and I'm sure I have a few new grey hairs to show for it. I also feel like I've learned to be more patient, and more aware of my own language and actions, as I seek to set a good example for this little person.
Parenthood is a weird thing, different than I ever thought it would be, both easier and far more difficult, but at the same time richer and more fulfilling. It's been a wild year, and I can't wait to see what's in store for us in the future.