January 2016. Cold, windy days are spent pacing the house in circles, then semicircles. I hold her and sing, and she does too. She crawls with ferocity, and squeals, beckoning me to chase her down the narrow hallway. Steps are few and far between, but they will be here soon enough. She greets all: toys, her mirrored images, her dada, her mama, any face she lays her eyes on. What started as a “hey” is now a proper “hi.” She lies prone in her crib for as long as anyone cares to rub her back or stroke her baby fine hair. Her eight teeth are proudly on display, and she has been known to bite. Under her arm she tucks her Christmas doll or plush polar bear. When prompted to kiss them, she smashes her face into theirs. Winnie Girl is one. Yesterday, we strolled down to the inlet’s edge to take a few photos where Amelia so lovingly captured our first few days with her last January.

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