Remember my New Years resolution from last year? It went something like: "record this first year of
Stella's life so that some day she can look back and read about what we
did, where we went, and who we saw." I was going to do it in this awesome One Line a Day Journal we got as a gift when Stella was born.
I have to admit that I didn't totally succeed. Days go by, hell, weeks go by without me updating it. And then I sit on the couch like I did tonight and try to fill it in from memory based on key dates in my calendar.
The thing is, I think about writing in it a lot. It just happens that when I think about it I'm giving Stella a bath (not a good time to leave to make a note to remember forever) or putting Stella to bed (again, leaving to fill in this journal not really an option).
But as I sat and read through some of the entries tonight, I kicked myself for not doing it more. All those days I didn't fill in are lost to my memory. The days I recorded seem more significant somehow, even if I wrote about the most mundane.
I thought I'd share just a few:
January 3 2011
Today your Dad officially went back to work. I miss his company in the house, so I made him eggless banana muffins. The sun is shining and we just got back from a walk.
January 6 2011
I'm glad you slept though my one-month post-labor doctor appointment. My stitches are healing beautifully. You enjoyed your first lunch at Slanted Door with Kambui and Anna.
February 10 2011
Your first day in Brooklyn. Your first trip to Blue Bottle to see your Auntie Sarah. Your first real icy cold. Your first snow.
April 11 2011
We went to a baby massage class in Berkeley. You got totally naked with 30 other babies and I rubbed you with almond oil. You seemed to like it.
April 30 2011
We took you to a wine bar in West Palm Beach. Your Dad let a nice lady take you to her table because she thought you were so cute. You spent about 10 minutes with her and her friends and then were returned. We missed you.
July 15 2011
A sad day. We got the news that our good friend Katie died. The news made me want to hold you tight and never let you go.
August 1 2011
You wave at everything. You wave at strangers, at cars, at your reflection in the mirror. It's a close-fisted wave, and we love and encourage it.
September 13 2011
You are unstoppable. You taught yourself how to climb up the first step of our stairs to try and reach (eat) some shoes.
November 20 2011
You have three molars coming in and slept horribly.
December 24 2011
We slept in (how could we not?) then drove to La Pedrera, a couple hours north of Montevideo. We went to an outdoor roast and watched Christmas fireworks at midnight. Another late night for our girl.
So I resolve (again) to record our days in this journal. It's only with a little distance that I see what a truly wonderful gift it is for our Stells...
6 comments:
ugh, i hate how horrible i've been at documenting cheechy's first year. i guess it's never too late to really commit, right?
I love the piece about the massage. That was excellent. "You seemed to like it."
Advice - What if instead of the journal, you just use one of those tiny moleskins you can pop in your pocket? That way it's more readily available and easier to jot down a note? Just a thought.
Good job! Anything you record is fabulous. And don't forget about your brilliant blog.
I have that 5 year line a day journal for which I had similar intentions. It's been months! These are so sweet.
We used to do this with vacations, bring a moleskine calendar with us and just write in a few sentences every morning and night. It's so much fun to read through and makes it so much easier to remember details that would have been forgotten.
Hm, must start up again....
I picked up this book in September and have actually succeeded in using it ever day since 9/2/11. At first I was surprised I was keeping up with it. Now I would feel really off kilter without it. --SFGL
I've got this journal for my gangstercito too; and I'm with you, it's hard to keep at it... but thank you so much for encouraging me to continue writing! Lovely entries Hannah!
Cheers to recording and documenting the big and the little things! It's never too late to commit or recommit... xo
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