Boho baby's first birthday. — Sheridan Ingalls

“I want to draw our family tree, on the soles of your feet. that way you will have roots where ever you choose to go.”

Two weekends ago all of my Nova Scotian family and friends came out to celebrate our special little lady’s first birthday (add in a couple of eager out of town-ers too) on the most beautiful Sunday our summer has seen so far.

I know it may appear that creativity is running through my veins, but if I’m being perfectly frank with you, more often than not there are many people helping me behind the scenes. For this special occasion, Nicole who owns and runs my favourite online shop OhDina! and her wonderfully witty and hilarious mother Sandy were all hands on deck. Not to mention, my talented girlfriend Chantal Routhier and her wonderful photography! She was able to capture the moment perfectly. All I wanted was her pretty face and her adorable sons smile in attendance but of course she couldn’t help herself and snapped some amazing pictures. God love her!

When you’re a new Mom all of those veteran Moms will tell you that time flies. THIS, they are not wrong about. I feel like I was just writing about Kaia’s birth story. I’ll never forget the day I first held her in my arms, I looked down at her ridiculously perfect face considering she just came out of my whoo-haa, and thought to myself, it’s me and you honey, for the rest of time, you’re stuck with me now sucker!

To say our daughter is the life of the party would be an understatement. It does not matter where we plant our feet, she is a riot. The other day we ventured to the library, which by the way is a fantastic place to bring your children and socialize, and I started up a conversation with a Nanny. She could not get over Kaia’s personality.

“My word, that’s quite the high shriek she’s got!”

This is Kaia’s go to when she’s excited – she holds her hands in little balls and needs everyone, at that exact moment to pay attention to her.

“I just can’t get over how animated she is!”

She has this new trick where she scrunches her nose and throws her head back, followed by a laugh to make sure that everyone knows she’s hilarious.

“She doesn’t care a whole lot about you does she?”

Oh Kaia, she could give two sh*ts about me and where I’m at when the action is going on elsewhere.

I know every Mom is different and that is why I love Moms, I love seeing all the differences in us, but one thing that I personally did when Kaia first joined us in the outside world was pass her off as much as I possibly could. My Mom used to tell me horror stories about my love for her and only her. I was not about to have that with this little lady. Imagine? Stuck to me like glue when I already spend 25/8 with her? NO THANKS. Alas, her love for other people is my favourite.

If you were to ask me what I thought Kaia would be like in a year’s time my answer would most certainly not be what she is now. Perhaps I was a bit naive, if you have a quick look at Ma and Pa, we’re both a bit ludicrous. ANY other person that spends quality time with Kaia will talk about how she is the exact combination of Matt and me. I seriously could not love a living human more even if I tried. She is me? I am her? It’s the craziest thing.

It’s truly unbelievable how proud you can be of someone for discovering new things.

Oh, you clapped your hands for the first time! Let’s have a God damn celebration.

Oh, you waved to me from your crib? We’re eating cake for dinner tonight!

Oh, you took your one year shots like a champ? Let’s run away to Fiji and never come back.

Matt and I always talk about how we hope our children will be the best version of us. I believe that I have taken all of the best qualities from my parents and I can only hope that Kaia will do the same. Let’s leave Daddy’s knack for throwing his clothes on the floor behind, and let’s toss Mama’s obsession over perfection down the drain.

I could write about her forever. That’s the beauty of being a Mama, you never ever stop talking about your children, you annoy the crap out of everyone and you could care less.

Mommy and Daddy love you so much you little firecracker! (This is me assuming she’ll read this when she’s old enough and naturally, will think I’m the best – YEAH RIGHT. More realistically, she’ll be all UM EXCUSE ME MA? Where’s the privacy, you’re a weirdo).