Thus begins the week of celebrating River’s first year on Earth! Last night was the kickoff—a lovely beach barbecue hosted by River’s Go(o)d Parents, Pete and Jane. It happened to be the one gorgeous day in a long streak of wet and cool days. We enjoyed good company and cheap beer while River sampled sand and got ridiculously dirty.  He had a blast.  We sang happy birthday to the little guy and he looked up totally bewildered at the spectacle. With that done he had no trouble accepting the kid-inspired banana-cupcake-with-peanut-butter-frosting made special by Jane.

River’s actual birthday isn’t until this coming Saturday, but we’ll celebrate again with my family tonight before we take off to the Midwest on Wednesday, where we’ll celebrate once again with another barbecue. This milestone seems worth lingering over, imagining and re-imagining how one little person can change the lives of so many people.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I love being a dad and, as much as this can be true about little ones, River makes it easy.