Happy Birthday Hammie

One year ago after an exhausting 22.5 hours of labor Hammie came into this world. She came out the color of a blueberry before a few tiny lung fulls revealed a more natural hue. Incapable of lifting her little head, we took an immediate liking to our worthless ball of meat and discovered a level of love and affection we previously couldn't fathom.

It took three weeks of getting to know Hammie before she received her legal name but she continues to go by a different moniker and will until she tells her dad she doesn't like it. We've watched Hammie become her own little person, possessing a shining disposition with occasional lapses were she becomes the little monster princess (or Hamzilla, Velocihammie, Hammisaurus Rex, etc, etc..).

A lot has changed since we first met our little girl. Her dark hair lightened and her toothless grin has slowly gained a few pearly whites but her blue eyes and kissable cheeks have remained intact. Special little mannerisms seem to come and go, enriching our lives and getting their own names (frog face, skruntchy face, drama queen, etc...) before being replaced or out of fashion.

At one year old Hammie is quite mobile with a sable walking style that has been compared to zombies, robots and sumo wrestlers. She walks best when she's calm and collected as over excitement tends to break her rhythm and sends her to the floor. In no time I'm sure she'll harness her exuberance and be running on her little legs leaving mom and dad scrabbling after.

Hammie talks a lot but is only understood when she resorts to grunts and hand-gestures. Nothing says "I want what you're easting" like aggravated grunts and outstretched arms, fingers raking the empty air in the direction of dad's icecream.

The year has flown by, marked with countless milestones, a few scares and lots of smiles. We feel extremely bless not only to have our wonderful little girl but to have wonderful friends and family who reciprocate our love and enrich our lives. Thanks you many times over. We are looking forward to the many years that will follow and the memories and joys collected along the way.

Happy Birthday Hammie and Happy Birthday Lina (it is after all her birthday too and mothers should remembered on there occasions).

Hammie on the day she was born