Dear Zoe, on your first birthday
One year ago today, you arrived into the world and everything changed. The light looked different, the mornings felt warmer, and suddenly every small thing carried the weight of something extraordinary.
You've spent this year learning how to smile, how to laugh, how to reach for the things you love. You've discovered your hands, your voice, the way the world sounds when it rains. Every day with you has been a quiet kind of adventure.
This little corner of the internet is for you — a place where the people who love you most can remember how it all began. Happy birthday, sweet girl. Here's to many more sunsets.
First Smile
That first real smile — not the sleepy reflex, but the one that meant she saw us and knew us.
First Laugh
A tiny, surprised giggle that turned into the most beautiful sound we'd ever heard.
First Steps
Wobbly, brave, and determined — she took three steps and then sat down, astonished at herself.
First Word
It might have been 'dada' or it might have been 'that' — either way, she meant it.