2011 was an amazing year for Satie and her family. She met several new friends…

Grew the cutest, curliest hair in the whole world…

Learned the names of almost everything…

Became an expert at walking and running…

…and wrote the first chapter of the story of her independent, amazing little life…

At 4am Friday morning, standing bleary-eyed under florescent lights in the secret Christmas gift hiding place of their home, Satie’s dad proudly showed off the mountainous haul of presents he had just acquired to Satie’s sleepy mom. He had been out all night, from 9pm Thursday, waiting and planning and hunting and calculating to the penny, all so that he could give the very best Christmas morning experience possible to his little baby girl.

Throughout the night, he thought of his own parents, how they had happily traversed the same gauntlet of commercial holiday madness for him when he was young, and he was thankful. The experience of parenthood is all of the things that he thought it would be, and much much more. It is just as life-altering, and more. It is just as difficult, and more. It is just as joyful, and more! Above all else this season of thanksgiving, Satie’s dad is thankful that being a father was part of the plan for his life.

Satie and her family wish you the happiest Thanksgiving season, and hope that you take time to reflect on the blessings of your own parents and children.

Satie is not a fan of business trips.

When Satie’s dad had to leave her behind to go on a 4-day business trip, it was quickly discovered that many parts of daily life felt awfully different without him around. From the face she saw first in the morning, to the arms that carried her to bed at night, Satie struggled to cope with her new routine. While ecstatic to have so much uninterrupted attention from her mom, Satie felt that something was wrong, and would frequently roam around the house looking in all of the normal places for “Diggy” to be. Often, she could be found resting her head against the door to the garage, intermittently slapping at the door and saying “DAA DAA DAAAAA!”

Though they kept in touch through daily phone calls and pictures sent by text message, Satie spiraled deeper into despondency as the days went on, and even lost her ability to sleep at night. Satie’s mom tried everything to distract and comfort her distraught little girl, and they had fun swimming, reading, dancing, laughing and visiting family, but it wasn’t until the night of reunion with Satie’s dad that all three of them slept through the night and found their happiness again.

The next evening, Satie and her dad sang and jumped and played and high-fived so frequently and so fervently that Satie was giggling herself right off her feet. Little Satie and her entire happy family agree that being together as a unit just makes life more fun.

Satie is starting her second year of life.

She was the guest of honor at her first birthday party today, where she was dazzled by cake, gifts and balloons. So many guests came to celebrate with her that they jockeyed for a clear view whenever Satie was doing something exciting or arrestingly cute.

When the debris from lunch had been cleared away, and the time came for birthday cake to be served, Satie was presented with her very own personal cake, uniquely crafted exclusively for her. She was tentative at first in her interactions with the confection, but as soon as she chanced to taste it, her apprehension melted away and she grabbed for pink icing, matting down her hair with it and smearing it on her mother’s face.

Due in large part to the recent purchase of a bargain-priced oversize picture book of various breeds of puppies, Satie has become infatuated with dogs and the sounds that they make. The slightest suggestion or mere passing observation of a canine or its likeness sends her into a frenzy of barks, woofs and coos. She will point and call out “dog!”, and then commence her emulation of their sound without regard for whatever activity she is currently engaged in, interrupting meals, transit between rooms, bedtime proceedings and more. Her little mouth forming around the “woofs” that she makes is one of the most adorable sights her parents have ever seen.

Due to this escalating interest in dogs and their noises, Satie’s birthday gifts were predominantly animalian in nature, from picture books to plush toys and robotic pets. She now has a healthy stack which she cycles through, growing more wide-eyed with each turn of a page.

With one whole year now under her belt, there is no slowing Satie’s discovery and development, as she tests out new words and explores new wonders daily.

Satie is making her dad’s weekends worth working for.

As they spend more time together, Satie and her dad grow more enamored with each other and all of the silly little expressions and noises that the other makes. Satie is developing her fledgling vocabulary daily, and learning to imitate new sounds such as the bark of a dog. She will soon be asking for everything by name.

Whether talking, walking, playing or dancing, little Satie – unmistakable Satie – is emerging  more and more, her personality emulsifying and gaining definition. She is beginning to have and to voice clear preferences about what she wants to do and what she wants to eat. Communication is becoming an imperative, whereas before it was merely something fun for her to participate in.

Satie is a constant source of joy to her parents and grandparents, flashing big, ineluctable smiles at them while cooing or calling them by name. She is a wonderful addition to the family.