Happy 1st Birthday, Gwendolyn!

The time has come. It hardly seems possible that we're celebrating Gwendolyn's first birthday today when we like, just brought her home from the hospital. Seriously. I have shed many tears thinking about this day. I can't explain my emotional craziness. I think it's a mixture of total awe and thankfulness for this little life and personality that God formed, a zealous devotion to wanting to be the mom she needs me to be, fascination at all of the changes that have taken place in the last year, and a complete and utter love that my heart didn't know before she entered this world. And just a tiny bit of sadness knowing we're quickly departing a stage in our lives that I have cherished beyond words. Being a mom has far exceeded all of my expectations; and while sometimes I long for her newborn-ness, every new development phase really does keep getting better and better. I know she's growing up, but I can't help but feel like she's still our little baby girl. 

Anyway...

I take a lot of pictures.

A lot.

As an example, I printed 88 pictures to use for photo banners at her birthday party, and struggled to get that down from 103 in my shopping cart. It was so hard to decide! There are so many firsts caught on camera that mean so much to us. In honor of her birthday, I decided to take a trip down memory lane and share with you just some of my favorites from the last year. 

Her actual birth day! A day I'll never, ever forget. And the SHOCK that she was a girl. I couldn't believe it.

 

Her first bath at home. What a disaster. We never did this again and instead opted for co-bathing until she was older, which worked so much better.

 

I loved her 8 day old crazy eyes.

 

Remember how small she was in her first ever bi-weekly photo? She was 8 lbs, 1 oz, but this picture makes her look like such a peanut. Also, I can't get over her long skinny legs. Those never did get very chunky! (Lucky girl.)

Her first ever bottle taken like a champ on April 18th.

"Hey guys."

She started smiling in May. Oh, how I looooooved her smiles.

While on maternity leave, I held her for all naps. By choice. I have no idea how I got everything done, but I still somehow managed to have a clean house and not feel like I was going crazy by everything on my to do list. I loved holding her and having an excuse to sit in our comfy chair and watch Ellen and the Price is Right. Those days were the best! We I finally had to break free from this habit when she started at daycare. I decided it wasn't fair to expect her to fall asleep on her own there and then hold her for naps on my days at home. Those were some sweet moments.

First day back at work. While drop off and the day in general went well, I couldn't get home fast enough that day!

Celebrating the 4th of July in Charles City...I love this picture of Gwendolyn with Wyatt, her younger bigger cousin. He just exudes happiness and they couldn't be more different. I love how all babies are so unique and created perfectly by God!

She was one of several new babies at my 10 year class reunion too.

Cousins Brooke and Grant moved only 30 minutes away - so much fun!

Our first Sinclair family vacation with baby in tow was wonderful. This picture of the seven of the grand kids is one of my absolute favorites. What a wonderful, loving, funny, smart, handsome/pretty, adorable bunch of kiddos. I can't wait to see the places they all go!

First food - "meg."

Breast milk mixed with egg yolk. 

YUMMY and NUTRITIOUS.

(She had other opinions.)

Gwendolyn saw her first rainbow in September. A reminder of God's provision over us!

 

I celebrated my 29th birthday - eeeek!

Someone turned 6 months old.

 

We went hiking in the beautiful Taylors Falls area to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary. Gwendolyn loves being outside and was content as could be in the carrier.

Remember how Tom arranged for John and Trisha to drive there and watch Gwendolyn so the two of us could go enjoy a relaxing 6-course meal? What a hubby!

A wedding in Omaha gave us great reason to go visit Becca and family. I love every excuse to see Weston and Wyatt. (And Robert too.)

This was also about the time she started sitting up.

Not long after, she started pulling those knees up under her and decided to start officially crawling on Thanksgiving day!

Time to lower the crib *tear.

It was in November that we also learned we'd soon be blessed with our 8th nephew in April! "Jack" (as we all call him) is actually due any day now!

In December she started pulling herself up on things, which made her look like such a big girl.

Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a little one was so much fun. I was so worried she'd attack the ornaments on the tree, but she never really showed any interest in them.

(Insert all of you saying "just wait until next year!")

My pretty little baby girl dressed in her Sunday best in January.

She quickly mastered the stairs!

Gwendolyn: "Mooooooom. Enough pictures already!"

Me: "Just one more. Make it a good one!"

Her face would lead me to believe she occasionally finds me annoying.

Her new big girl stroller and car seat arrived in February. So many changes in so little time.

I wish I had a comfy car seat. This thing rocks.

Two hands. 

Four rings.

(And I absolutely love the face she's making in this picture. She does it whenever she's really excited.)

She'd sit on that step and wait patiently while I put my boots and coat on in the mornings (back when it was technically still winter.) Doesn't she look so old?! (Don't answer that...)

And what is funny is that this hat started out too big for her at the beginning of winter...

"I'll take this one!"

I love shopping with her now that she's riding in carts. She rode in her first shopping cart back in February when we got rid of the infant car seat, but I've only taken her shopping a handful of times since then. It's a whole new experience riding up front! She loves being able to look around. And I love having more space in the cart!

And it never fails, someone always stops me to comment on how pretty she is or talk about her lack of hair or ask what her name is or how old she is or tell me a story about their granddaughter, etc. I love it. I don't think I'll ever get sick of talking about her or showing her off.

Gwendolyn,

You're ONE! What an immense blessing it is to be your mama. I wouldn't want any other job in the whole wide world. And what a blessing to have made it through the first year - we have much to celebrate and be thankful for. God has provided for and taken care of us. You've flourished and been healthy and we all survived some major transitions.

You're wearing size 3 diapers.

12 month clothes.

You typically sleep through the night, unless you don't feel well.

You still nurse 4 or 5 times on our days home together.

You take 3 bottles at Miss Kathy's (but are soon transitioning to the sippy cup!)

You take two naps during the day - morning nap is usually about 1-1.5 hours and the afternoon nap is usually closer to 2 hours.

You love almost all fruits. Not so sure about vegetables.

You typically let just about anyone hold you, but not without a bit of caution.

You love daycare and reach your arms out for Kathy every single time.

You make it pretty clear what you want, and aren't always very patient.

You have 8 teeth.

You're passionate about food.

You dominate the stairs.

You pull yourself up on things and we can trick you into letting go by asking you to clap, but you have yet to stand on your own.

You point your toes both when you're excited and when you're upset.

You loving singing songs, music and playing peekaboo. 

You make people work for smiles.

You crawl very fast.

You take one bath a week, and have a lot of fun with your toys.

You love other kids and seem to play well with others.

You're relaxed and easy going, except for when you're not.

You exude happiness, love, joy, and delight.

I don't know what we'd do without you, baby girl! I can't wait to see what God has in store for you and your life. I pray His will be done! Happy birthday, Gwendolyn! Thanks for the most incredible year of my life. 

I love you,

Mama

"In My Daughter's Eyes"

In my daughter's eyes, 

I am a hero,

I am strong and wise, 

And I know no fear,

But the truth is plain to see,

She was sent to rescue me,

I see who I want to be,

In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes,

Everyone is equal,

Darkness turns to light,

And the world is at peace,

This miracle God gave to me,

Gives me strength when I am weak,

I find reason to believe,

In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger,

How it puts a smile in my heart,

Everything becomes a little clearer,

I realize what life is all about,

It's hanging on when your heart is had enough,

It's giving more when you feel like giving up,

I've seen the light,

It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes,

I can see the future,

A reflection of who I am and what will be,

And though she'll grow and someday leave,

Maybe raise a family,

When I'm gone I hope you see,

How happy she made me,

For I'll be there,

In my daughter's eyes.

- Martina McBride

(Couldn't have said it better myself.)