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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

twelve months of gwenna

Gwennie Girl,

I blinked.

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I blinked one short blink and suddenly, here we are. A full year (to the exact minute if this post publishes when it’s supposed to) since that beautiful July morning when you stole my heart and made me the mother of two.

It’s gone so fast. Yet, somehow, at the same time I feel like I have soaked up and savoured your first year in a way that I didn’t know was possible. I cherished those lazy naps in my bed with you. I cherished the months that you spent hours snuggled between Daddy and I in our bed. I cherished watching you grow and learn and develop and explore. I noticed every milestone. I didn’t wish it away. I cherished it all. Maybe because I knew just how fast these days would be gone.

You are my sweet slow down baby. When life is moving too fast, you have taught me, at the most important times to stop. To stop and slow down and just be.

You are a beautiful soul. You light up every room with your smirks, smiles and giggles. You make friends wherever you go, waving and chatting with everyone you see.

People always talk about the second child living the shadow of the first, and going unnoticed. I think those people are crazy. You are in the spotlight more often than you’re not. Because, you see, not only do a have a proud Mommy and Daddy doting over you, playing with you, loving on you and getting excited with you about every discovery and development you make – but you also have a Big Sister who loves you up just as much, or more, than we do. She is your biggest fan. I have waited and waited for the novelty of having you around to wear off for her – but it hasn’t. Of course, there are starting to be moments of disagreement and annoyance between you two, but for the most part, she adores every single thing about you.

My blue-eyed girl – the moments we have shared this past year are so cherished in my heart. There is something about the first year that’s just so special. You have come so far, changed so much. From a tiny little babe nestled on my chest to a walking, running, playing, spirited little girl who is joy to me. You are very evidently becoming your own person. You are dramatic and funny and silly. You love to be outside – bringing your shoes to me within two minutes of waking up and banging on the glass of the windows, screaming at me if we don’t head outside right!this!moment. You love your puppy. You love your Daddy. And the two of them together is the best thing. You love your big sister. You love to play with her and copy her and most of all, annoy her. You love all of these things – but at the end of the day, you are Mama’s sweet baby. You begin and end your days cuddled in my arms and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

You have captured us – so fully and so quickly. It’s only been one short year – but it’s as though you’ve been a part of our family forever. We can’t remember what life was like without you, and we’d never want to remember. You have made our hearts a million times bigger and filled us with a million times more love than we could ever imagine.

Thank you, sweet girl, for being ours and for making this year the best one yet.

All my love,

Mama

4 comments:

Katie @ Loves of Life said...

Well, that was perfect. I'm all emotional. Maybe because I have a few weeks left until I'm writing this. But I just cannot believe a year goes so damn fast. Beautiful Gwennie girl. Happy birthday!!!!!!!!

Shannon Dew said...

Happy birthday sweet girl!

Emily said...

She is just precious! Time really has flown by. It seems like yesterday I was reading your post about giving birth to her. :)

Happy Birthday pretty girl!!!

amanda said...

Aww. Love.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Gwen.

This was lovely, Lindsay. It's choking me up thinking my little Gray is only 3.5 mos away from a year. How does it go so fast?