Ask Ellen: How has your baby’s first year been?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Our little girl is officially one! The first year has been a whirlwind of joy and juggling.

I am continually impressed with how fast a baby changes, and how well so many Americans have juggled the journey that is parenthood.

Piper is walking and saying a few words. She has the chubbiest thighs, which we love. Along with “mama”, her first word, and “dada” her favorite word — she has learned “balloon” which she pronounces “ba-boo.” This may have to do with the frequent hot air balloon excursions she has been to with her pilot dad. She may not be able to tell you what a cow says yet, but she can tell you what a hot air balloon says (“cccuuuhhhhhhhhcc!”).

I am extremely grateful for the people in my life who have helped me navigate the first year. There were some days the juggle was very difficult — the demands too high. But soon, you start sleeping more than four broken hours a night and little acts of kindness from the world around you help you recover your feet, followed by your bearing.

Everyone says it goes fast. I feel like it’s going faster than fast. I am looking forward to the ups, and hoping I do right by our girl in the downs. We each have a different story in life. It has been a wild ride watching our particular one unfold.

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