A Year Ago Today

**I had written this post yesterday, but forgot to publish it, so it's a day late**

Hard to believe that last year I babysat Lina for the first time at a coffee shop just down the street from Melissa's work.  She slept most of the time, but about 30min before Melissa got back she woke up and just had to sit on Aunt Lynny's lap and talk to me.  She took her bottle and we waited for Mommy to come back so we could go grocery shopping for Daddy's birthday dinner.

Lina at the coffee shop

After Melissa found us we decided to make our way to Whole Foods to pick up what we were going to make for dinner.  As we were walking through the aisles Lina started to get a little fussy so we quickly finished picking out what we needed (which included sweets, because what is a birthday without sweets!) and started our walk back home.  

In New York you don't go to the store and buy a weeks worth of food.  There are multiple reasons why but a big one, is that you need to carry what you buy home.  Now I don't know how far it is from the grocery store to their place, but I'm going to guess that it's about a mile, but I do know that Lina's stroller held most of the food, but my arms held the rest and by the time we made it home they were tired.  Most people in New York have small carts that they use to go shopping, unless you push a stroller, then you load it into that (the strollers in New York are like their cars).

Once home we all rested for awhile and then us ladies started to make dinner.  I can't remember what exactly we made... but I do remember that Melissa taught me how to make pico de gallo and I do remember that dinner was very good.  Oh Wait I remember... we made tacos!!  Then for Birthday dessert it was an assortment of treats.  Not exactly birthday cake... next time I'm in New York I think I will make Tim birthday cake, even if it's for no ones birthday.  The poor guy misses out on it over a dozen times a year and every time he is home he talks about birthday cake.

It was present time... He was a very capable dad and held Lina the whole time he opened gifts.  

Lina even made him a birthday card! I'm sure it's the first of many she will make him over the years.

 It was a pretty low key day, but I think it was a good day, Tim's first Birthday as a Daddy!!

**OK, so I wrote this yesterday but I have to add that last night we faceTimed Tim and Melissa (Lina was in bed already) and they were showing us videos of Lina walking.  It's just amazing to me to see How much she has changed in one year!  Since I only get to see her at the most 3 times a year, but probably only like twice a year, the change is so much more obvious.  Just looking back at these pictures reminds me how quickly time flies... make the most of each moment, because one day your holding a brand new baby, you blink and she is walking and sprouting the cutest curly little fro.**