My nephew Connor turned 1 this past week. My own daughter’s first birthday is in less than a month. It really doesn’t feel like a year since these two have come into this world. They’re growing up so fast, and becoming their own little people. My wife and I like to joke that we don’t have a baby, we have a person. That used to be funny because for a while, Amelie was just this little baby that sat there in her swing and just slept or ate or cried. But then she started smiling. Then giggling. Then she started to figure things out; she started using her hands. Now she’s crawling around like a speed demon, and walking (with assistance). It’s both frightening and exciting that soon she will be running around and talking and asking questions.

But that’s nothing compared to the thought that one day she will be a teenager. That’s true fear. Let’s not talk about that right now.

Anyway, Connor’s birthday party included all the hallmarks of a great birthday party: Shakespeare’s Pizza, cake (which Connor appropriately destroyed), and fun outside in the pool. Here’s to many more!