Our little Squish is fast closing in on her first birthday. Where have these last 12 months gone?

My first year of fatherhood has been better than I imagined. It comes with plenty of challenges, of course, but so does every path we choose in life.

I’m focussed on the positives — so here are 12 things I’ve loved about Elsa’s first 12 months.

1. Her Smile

The first trait that comes to mind when I think of my baby daughter is her cheeky, irresistible grin. Along with the bright sparkle in her eyes, Squish’s smile now comes with five teeth and a scrunched-up nose.

Elsa has a way of picking me out across the room before I’m even paying attention. When I look up, there she is, smiling at her daddy, waiting for my reaction. Way to melt a man’s heart.

2. Her Giggle

To the uninitiated, a baby’s smile and a baby’s giggle can almost sound synonymous. But they are two different things entirely.

You never quite know when Elsa will break out into a giggle. Tickling, pulling a face or performing a silly dance increases the odds dramatically, but the conditions have to be right.

Like a trusty old lawn mower, it can take a bit to get Squish going, but when that cackle starts, it takes on a life of its own.

3. Her Love of Nature

My wife and I love the outdoors, so it has been a delight to see how much Squish loves creation, too.

Her biggest vocabulary set is animals and animal noises; taking her outside puts an instant stop to almost any crying; and there’s nothing she loves more than sitting in the grass, watching wildlife at the park or splashing in water.

4. Her Personality

I didn’t expect to “know” my baby so well at the one-year mark. I kind of imagined that it was mostly eating, sleeping, pooping and crying until the toddler years. But Squish really does have a personality — and a big one at that.

She’s a really happy kid (so long as her needs are generally being met). She studies people, and studies their mouths to learn how to talk. She is fascinated by older children. She has a playful sense of humour, and knows how to make us laugh with her head shakes and bopping and crazy noises. I don’t remember teaching her any of these things. It’s amazing how in-built personality can be at such a tender age.

5. Her Bond With Angie

One of my favourite things has been watching my wife Angie step into her role as mother. Elsa was adopted, so this was not an automatic process. Angie had to work hard to establish a bond with Squish — but now the two are inseparable.

“Mama” is by far Elsa’s favourite word. My wife knows exactly how to calm and comfort her. The two spend all day together and the relationship they have is precious.

6. Her Very Invested Grandparents

As I wrote last week, my parents recently flew all the way from Australia to the US to meet Squish for the first time, and the experience was wonderful. When we move back to Australia, I know they will be deeply invested in her.

The same can be said of Angie’s parents, who have lived just up the road during Elsa’s first year, have seen her almost every second day since her birth, and love her to bits.

It is an incredible privilege for our daughter to have four fully invested grandparents.

7. Her Caring Birth Mother

Anyone who has followed this column since last August will know about the remarkable events that led to Elsa’s adoption.

Many adoptions take place in tragic circumstances and involve a birth mother who makes life difficult for the adoptive parents, or, just as painfully, cuts contact altogether.

Squish’s birth mother did neither. She has acted with maturity and grace from day one, always thinking about Elsa’s best interests and never doubling back on her decision. We have spent time together on every major holiday since, and maintain a great relationship with her that will make life easy for Squish as she grows older and starts understanding her adoption story.

8. Her Impressive Language Skills

Permit me to brag for a moment, if I haven’t already. Elsa’s language is incredible. At eleven and a half months, she already has a vocabulary of around 50 words, the latest of which include coffee, nappy, crawl, bubble, up, avocado, and car key. She can even say her own name.

9. Her Tottering Walk

Squish has also been quick in learning how to walk. I remember her standing in my lap and bearing almost all of her own weight at just two months of age.  Recently, she took her first independent steps.

Currently, our favourite family game is having Squish walk from mum to dad and back again. There’s nothing as delightful as seeing Elsa’s beaming smile as she totters towards me with arms flailing.

10. Precious Family Time

I work long days so Angie can raise our girl. There are sacrifices on both sides. But family time feels like our big reward for these sacrifices.

In the afternoons and into the evening, we go for walks, take Elsa to the park, or just have fun at home together before the bedtime routine begins. Saturday mornings are also precious, when we try to set aside time for a family coffee date or another fun outing.

The lesson we are learning is that, even though family life is demanding, the entire purpose of family is relationship, so our relationships need to stay number one.

11. Creating a Loving Home

Angie and I are blessed to have both come from steady, caring homes. We want to create the same for our daughter and any future children we have.

The Bible, common sense, and decades of research all agree that a loving home creates the best conditions for a child to thrive in life. Every day, I am conscious of this fact, and I count it a joy to be creating such an environment for my little girl in a world that is growing increasingly dark and chaotic.

12. Every Month Gets Better

Every month with Squish gets better. I loved her at six months of age more than I did at five. Her tenth month was my favourite until her eleventh month came along. I fully expect this trend to continue.

Stay tuned in here for updates!

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Image courtesy of Unsplash.