Happy Birthday, Simone! You’ve come such a long way in just one year! Thanks for letting us tag along.
And Happy Simone’s 1st Birthday, Alexa. You deserve presents and cupcakes too!
Wow, she is such a beautiful miracle, and this video is so perfect. Such a lively, chubby one-year-old! I can’t believe a whole year has gone by since she was born!
The video brings tears to my eyes. Happy Birthday Simone. You are a little miracle! Before you know it, Alexa, she’ll be 16 and asking for the keys to the car.
Oh, Alexa. My heart nearly broke when I saw the pic of you holding her when she was newborn. So tiny. And now – she’s absolutely lovely, and I cant tell you how happy I am for her, and for you and your husband.
Happy birthday, Simone!
What a YEAR….what a beautiful little miracle he is …..just adorable!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Simone…..there are a lot of us out here that have been pulling for you from day one!! We love you from afar!!
*tears streaming* I just shared this video with my eight year old surviving twin. My heart is with you all. He says that Simone is just beautiful, I happen to agree.
I’ve read your blog twice through, but I’ve never yet commented. I just needed to tell you that Simone’s birthday video moved me to tears. She has become such a pumpkin! Happy birthday to her, and all blessings on her coming year and her future.
By the way, I also wanted to say that you are a very talented writer. (And I’m an English professor, if not an agent, alas, so I know a little something about narrative and tone and voice.) Anyhow, have you ever thought about writing a guide to ART procedures for the hip and the witty? I, for one, would buy such a book in a heartbeat, aspiring, as I do, to know something about IVF and to attain hipness and wittiness…
Remember way back when you were afraid to hope? Isn’t this day FANTASTIC???? Happy birthday, beautiful bouncy Simone, and congratulations, Alexa & Scott, for finishing up this first and worst year reasonably sane.
I haven’t commented in ages, but I’ve been following your posts constantly. This video is absolutely lovely, Alexa. What a tribute to your remarkable baby girl. It made me cry very happy tears for you all. Happy birthday, Simone!
I can’t believe I’ve been reading about her growing for the last year and now she’s a year old! Happy birthday, Simone! You are such a loved little girl!
Oh Simone, Happy Birthday! And may I commend you on your avent garde (you know, for a baby – wait, make that Toddler) taste in music. I remember each one of those pictures being posted. I remembered you when my daughter was born early in March of 2008. I told her you’d been through all this and more and were managing to rock the nasal canula with some serious Style. So she was inspired to following in your tiny little footsteps and also become a fat, giggly little baby… er, almost Toddler. You’re a rock star Simone.
I love this. I watched it once and it made me cry. Then I made my husband watch it and at first he was like…what? I don’t even know this baby. But then he was immediately sucked in. What a year you’ve had.
Okay, you got me. You got me! I am sitting here crying like a little bitch watching this. She is marvelous. What more to say? Happy Birthday to all of you.
I loved that. I can’t believe you were able to make a video that cool with everything going on. She’s gorgeous and FAAAAT! Congratulations. And, yes, Ames is in my thoughts as well.
{Delurking} – Happy Birthday Simone! I bookmarked your website last year to check in on Simone while she was in the NICU, but I’ve stayed because it’s been so fun to watch her grow, and because I really enjoy your writing! Enjoy your sweet baby – they grow so fast! (My oldest just turned 15 yesterday, and I swear he was little just a few weeks ago…)
Happy Birthday! She has the cutest face–those cheeks! Thank you for sharing your family’s story with us. I’ve been reading since NICU and look forward to your posts every week.
I just spent a beautiful 2 minutes and 33 seconds laughing and crying. Thank you for sharing Simone’s birthday video with us. What a beautiful birthday girl! Happy Birthday Simone!!!! – well done mommy and daddy. She perfect. :-)
Happy Birthday to beautiful Simone!!! I can’t believe she is a year old, she’s conquered so many milestones and the days of seeing pictures of her with tubes seem like such a distant memory; so many more happy memories to come. What a great slide show!!!
My heart is now happier today! Thank you for sharing Simone with us for all this time – she is an angel. Happy Birthday sweetie and congrats to you as well Alexa- you are a wonderful mom!
Just catching up, darlin’, after revision deadlines, and was stunned to see those early shots. I had forgotten how tiny and fragile she was back then–especially when she’s such a delicious round bundle of adorability now. Congratulations to you all for coming through the year with such grace and good humor. Cupcakes for everyone!
Sending all the best to you and the birthday girl.
151 Comments
Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!
How wonderful to see how far she’s come! Happy birthday, Simone.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Happy Birthday!
AHHH! Look at her! She’s so gorgeous! And has changed so much! (Why do babies do that? Why must it all go SO FAST?)
Oh I adore her. Happy birthday, Simone.
Happy birthday, darling girl.
It is so amazing to see how far she has come in a year. Wonderful job on the video! Happy Birthday Simone!!!
Happy birthday!!!!
Happy birthday dollface!
Happy Birthday!
She is amazing :)
Great job on the video
Oh sweetie, happy, happy birthday. I could just swim in your eyes.
Happy Birthday Simone! She’s beautiful! What a difference a year can make!
Mo
Wow! It’s so amazing to see all of that put together! Happy Birthday Simone!
Happy Birthday Simone!
this is so great! happy birthday to your sweet girl!
Happy Birthday Simone!
What a SUPER BABY! She’s gorgeous. Happy Happy Day!
Happy Birthday Simone!
Happy Birthday, to your dear one, on her first birthday!
Great big sobs of joy- how far she has come = what a fighter she is!
Happy Birthday sweetheart! Having a little wee sniffle here over the video.
Happy Birthday, Simone! You’ve come such a long way in just one year! Thanks for letting us tag along.
And Happy Simone’s 1st Birthday, Alexa. You deserve presents and cupcakes too!
What a little champ she is! Happy Birthday Simone!
Happy Birthday Simone! Thank you for that video. I can’t believe how much she has changed!
Oh my…straight from heaven, that girl is. She’s a beauty.
Happy 1st Birthday Miss Simone. You’re an amazing girl.
Happy Birthday beautiful girl!!
Wow, she is such a beautiful miracle, and this video is so perfect. Such a lively, chubby one-year-old! I can’t believe a whole year has gone by since she was born!
Congratulations!
Happy Birth Day!
Oh so tear-inducingly beautiful. Happy birthday Simone!
Happy happy birthday Simone!! I love the video– it’s perfect. I may have to copy you and make one myself…
Wow, just wow. Happy Birthday, gorgeous Simone!
Happy birthday, you brave, beautiful girl, Simone!
Simply precious! Happy 1st Birthday, Simone!
Happy Birthday Simone!
The video brings tears to my eyes. Happy Birthday Simone. You are a little miracle! Before you know it, Alexa, she’ll be 16 and asking for the keys to the car.
I’m crying watching this, remembering all the days that were so scary, tiring, and exciting. I can’t believe it has been a year already.
Happy Birthday Super Girl.
And Happy Momversary Alexa.
Happy Birthday Simone!
Happy Birthday Beautiful Simone!!
Happy Birthday, Simone! Happy first Birthday strong little miracle girl!!!
Happy birthday Simone! And happy first year, Alexa!
Happy birthday, Simone! :D
Happy Birthday Simone!!! What a cutie pie
Oh, Alexa. My heart nearly broke when I saw the pic of you holding her when she was newborn. So tiny. And now – she’s absolutely lovely, and I cant tell you how happy I am for her, and for you and your husband.
Happy birthday, Simone!
oh goodness, I can just imagine how much that made you cry. Congratulations Simone, and well done Alexa. It’s been quite a year.
What a YEAR….what a beautiful little miracle he is …..just adorable!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Simone…..there are a lot of us out here that have been pulling for you from day one!! We love you from afar!!
oops…she
Happy Birthday Simone!
Happy birthday, Simone!
*tears streaming* I just shared this video with my eight year old surviving twin. My heart is with you all. He says that Simone is just beautiful, I happen to agree.
she is amazing, you and Scott are great parents.
Happy Birthday Simone!
Happy Birthday Simone!
Happy Birthday Simone!
boo was nursing when i hit “play”, and he immediately stopped and turned to watch. we are both smitten.
happy birthday, lovely girl. we hope your mama enjoys your cupcakes.
What a year. Happy birthday, Simone.
And thank you for your writing. I don’t know if I’ve commented here before, but I look forward to your posts every time.
Happy Birthday Simone! What a beautiful slideshow.
What an amazing year it has been for an amazing little girl. Happy Birthday, Simone!
Awww…happy birthday!
I’ve read your blog twice through, but I’ve never yet commented. I just needed to tell you that Simone’s birthday video moved me to tears. She has become such a pumpkin! Happy birthday to her, and all blessings on her coming year and her future.
By the way, I also wanted to say that you are a very talented writer. (And I’m an English professor, if not an agent, alas, so I know a little something about narrative and tone and voice.) Anyhow, have you ever thought about writing a guide to ART procedures for the hip and the witty? I, for one, would buy such a book in a heartbeat, aspiring, as I do, to know something about IVF and to attain hipness and wittiness…
Fabulous! Happy Birthday Simone, and Flotsam Family. Alexa, it is a good time for you to reflect on your success as a mother – you did it!
how absurdly beautiful is your child? my lord.
wow……our babies were supposed to be born around the same time, so it just floors me that Simone is ONE! Happy birthday beautiful Simone!
Wow – can’t even believe it’s already that time! Many many happy returns!
Remember way back when you were afraid to hope? Isn’t this day FANTASTIC???? Happy birthday, beautiful bouncy Simone, and congratulations, Alexa & Scott, for finishing up this first and worst year reasonably sane.
Happy Birthday Kiddo! What a great video!
Absolutely gorgeous! What a year you’ve had. Happy Birthday, big girl, Simone. God bless you.
I haven’t commented in ages, but I’ve been following your posts constantly. This video is absolutely lovely, Alexa. What a tribute to your remarkable baby girl. It made me cry very happy tears for you all. Happy birthday, Simone!
happy birthday Simone. happy birthday, mama.
Delurking to say that I can’t believe it has been over one year that I have been reading your blog!
Happy Birthday Beautiful Simone!
Happy birthday, Simone!
Happy Birthday, Simone! What amazing images. Your little life, just incredible.
I can’t believe I’ve been reading about her growing for the last year and now she’s a year old! Happy birthday, Simone! You are such a loved little girl!
Happy birthday, Simone! I love to see you jumping up and down!
And congratulations to you and Scott, Alexa. Happy tears here. :~)
Oh Simone, Happy Birthday! And may I commend you on your avent garde (you know, for a baby – wait, make that Toddler) taste in music. I remember each one of those pictures being posted. I remembered you when my daughter was born early in March of 2008. I told her you’d been through all this and more and were managing to rock the nasal canula with some serious Style. So she was inspired to following in your tiny little footsteps and also become a fat, giggly little baby… er, almost Toddler. You’re a rock star Simone.
Happy, happy birthday gorgeous girl!
I love this. I watched it once and it made me cry. Then I made my husband watch it and at first he was like…what? I don’t even know this baby. But then he was immediately sucked in. What a year you’ve had.
Happy Birthday, Simone!
What? No no no. She can’t be a year. HOW has it been a year? Wow. She is incredible, as are you. Many hugs all around.
She is beautiful. I can’t believe it has been a year either. Amazing.
You’ve inspired me, and this year we will be in the Walk for Babies with ours.
wow! happy birthday beautiful girl!
Okay, you got me. You got me! I am sitting here crying like a little bitch watching this. She is marvelous. What more to say? Happy Birthday to all of you.
yikes, one year already?!?
happy birthday!
twinkle twinkle happiness…
What an amazing journey you have all been on. Happy Birthday to Simone, to you & Scott, and to the memory of Ames.
Amazing. What a long, strange year it’s been.
Very, very happy birthday to you all.
I loved that. I can’t believe you were able to make a video that cool with everything going on. She’s gorgeous and FAAAAT! Congratulations. And, yes, Ames is in my thoughts as well.
I can’t believe it has been a year! I’m sure your Mommy and Daddy can’t believe it either. Happy Birthday!
I warned you a long time ago about these preemies – how they grow and thrive and turn out so marvelously!
Happy Happy Happy Bithday to the beautiful and very charming Simone and Many Happy Returns of the Day to you, Mama Alexa.
/s/ a dedicated reader
You’ve come a long way, baby! Happy Birthday! :)
A very happy birthday to a very beautiful girl!
Wow…one year.
I cannot get over those cheeks! Happy birthday, Simone!
Happy Day, sweet baby Simone. You have amazed and dazzled and charmed your way into our hearts.
Zum Geburtstag, viel Glück! Langes leben und Gesundheit!
The video was awesome. I love the jumper footage!
Happy Birthday, Pussycat!
I love your throaty chuckle!
Oh, amazing! A year old already — she’s come such a huge way. Congratulations to all of you, and Happy Birthday, Simone!!
Happy birthday Simone! And congratulations to you for making it through her first year!
PS. that bouncy thing looks like so much fun! I want one!
Happy Birthday, Simone! A happy and healthy start to 2009.
What a year it’s been!
Happy birthday Simone, many many happy returns to you!
happy birthday honey!
Happy Birthday, Simone! You’ve come such a long way in only a year, amazing.
zomg that made me cry.
Happy Birthday sweetie.
{Delurking} – Happy Birthday Simone! I bookmarked your website last year to check in on Simone while she was in the NICU, but I’ve stayed because it’s been so fun to watch her grow, and because I really enjoy your writing! Enjoy your sweet baby – they grow so fast! (My oldest just turned 15 yesterday, and I swear he was little just a few weeks ago…)
Happy happy birthday Simone :) She is the CUTEST. Evah!
All together now…”AWWWWWWWWWWW…”
Happy Birthday Simone! You are an amazing child and I truly enjoy watching you grow through this blog. Thank you, Alexa, for sharing all that you do.
Very nice!
Awww how wonderful! Happy B.D. to ya,Simone, what a cutie! to mama, lots of hugs, ya done good.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Happy Birthday Simmone! My birthday is 2/9, Aquariuses rock! you are one strong and amazing kid!
congrats to mom and dad for surviving the first year!:-)
Happy Birthday!!!!
Congratulations on your first year of being parents. Beautiful miracle baby!
Happy Birthday! She has the cutest face–those cheeks! Thank you for sharing your family’s story with us. I’ve been reading since NICU and look forward to your posts every week.
Oh my. Happy birthday simone! What an extraordinary year you have had, miss beauty.
Happy Birthday Simone!
Happy Birthday Simone! I’m so very happy for you!
*sigh* you’ve come a long way baby! a true miracle. congrats to you, too Mama.
That was beautiful! Happy birthday Simone!
Happy Birthday Simone! And Happy Anniversary to you as parents!
Simone is so cute. She has awesome cheeks. And I love the bear jammies – we have the same ones.
happy b-day simone!!
awesome job on the video! it was too cute :)
Oh, Alexa, this brings tears to my eyes! She’s so beautiful! Happy Birthday, Simone. Many, many, many more!
Sniff… tears in my eyes too. Happy birthday sweet Simone.
Oh your daughter. She’s beautiful.
I just can’t get over how tiny she was. Happy Birthday Simone! Congratulations Mom, she’s beautiful and happy. Good job!
I just spent a beautiful 2 minutes and 33 seconds laughing and crying. Thank you for sharing Simone’s birthday video with us. What a beautiful birthday girl! Happy Birthday Simone!!!! – well done mommy and daddy. She perfect. :-)
Wow! She’s so beautiful and healthy and happy! Happy Birthday, Simone! Happy Momaversary to you, Alexa… she is truly amazing!
Happy, happy birthday, Simone. Thank you for sharing your beautiful girl with us. I’ve so enjoyed watching her thrive and grow this past year.
Oh my word, look at your gorgeous daughter!!!!! I cried over this video! Happy Birthday, sweet little Simone!
That brought both tears and smiles…Congratulations and happy 1st Simone!!
Oh that picture of her on the chair standing up to look outside about took my breath away. You’ve come a long way, baby!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!! What a year Simone…you are beautiful
Happy Birthday, Simone!
How strong and lovely you were, and are, and will always be.
Happy 1st birthday, Simone!
Lots of love-
The Bergeson family
Oscar, Brady, and Carla
De-lurking (and wiping away tears) to say Happy Birthday, Simone!!
Unbelievable. It has NOT been a year yet. You’re wrong. I’m just saying.
She’s a doll. Happy Birthday Simone, you are quite the amazing little girl.
Happy 1st Birthday Simone!! She is beautiful.
Totally made me cry. Happy birthday, Simone!! Hooray for you!
Holy shit! Simone is such a big girl now!
Oh my god, that was perfect. I’m crying.
Happy birthday, Simone!!
happy birthday, simone! loved the video.
oh my god, beautiful. I’m weeping. Happy Birthday to both of you!
That video was Oscar worthy… Seriously.
Where does the time go?
Good job on the video- love the song!
Happy birthday!
great video! happy b-day Simone!
Happy Birthday Simone! Thanks for sharing the video, Simone has come a long way~
Happy First Birthday Miss Simone!
Amazing how tiny she was just a short year ago. She is a true miracle baby. Beautiful in every way!
wonderful!
That was amazing. I’m so happy for your family.
Happy Birthday to beautiful Simone!!! I can’t believe she is a year old, she’s conquered so many milestones and the days of seeing pictures of her with tubes seem like such a distant memory; so many more happy memories to come. What a great slide show!!!
Beautiful! Happy birthday Simone!!! Look how you have blossomed over the past year!
It’s so amazing just how much she’s changed in 1yr!
wow – that made me cry. She has come so far and is doing so well!!!
My heart is now happier today! Thank you for sharing Simone with us for all this time – she is an angel. Happy Birthday sweetie and congrats to you as well Alexa- you are a wonderful mom!
Just catching up, darlin’, after revision deadlines, and was stunned to see those early shots. I had forgotten how tiny and fragile she was back then–especially when she’s such a delicious round bundle of adorability now. Congratulations to you all for coming through the year with such grace and good humor. Cupcakes for everyone!
Sending all the best to you and the birthday girl.
Just catching up on posts over here, too!
What a gorgeous little video that was! Stunning pictures of a stunning baby! Love all the outfits, too!
Happy (belated) birthday, big girl! :o)