When I saw Kate for the
first time, my first thought was, “That is who has been growing inside of me
for nine months?” I spent the first few
days of her life, admittedly, a little confused, trying to figure out whom this
tiny creature looked like. Because, at
first, she didn’t look like anyone. Not
myself. And certainly not Boris. I guess I kind of expected a little girl
version of Ben...
As the weeks passed, her
swelling went down, her newness disappeared and she began to look like a mini version of me. It’s strange, having
someone who looks so much like you. I
never had that experience growing up. My
siblings and I have always had some similarities but we certainly aren’t clones
of each other (or of either of our parents).
I think, it’s why it took me at least six months to feel comfortable
calling her “Kate” (Kate, coming into her name is a post in itself). And it’s why, when I hold her and look at the
two of us in the mirror, I feel like I’m holding a younger version of me. Sometimes I have a hard time separating her
from myself. It’s as if we’re one in the
same.
Kate is turning one in a
little over two weeks. One! I can’t even believe she’s been a part of our
family for almost an entire year. I know
this blog has been a little “Kate” heavy lately but over the next few weeks I’m
going to try and write about some of the things I wish I had put to paper when
she was new but didn’t have the time or energy to do.
When I was at my parents the
other night, I rummaged through some old pictures and found a few of me at the one
year mark. We aren’t identical (her nose
is different and her face is rounded...oh, and both Boris and I agree that’s
she’s definitely cuter) but she is, without a doubt, my daughter.
