I Love...{Mother's Day Edition}

How your hair is coming in (finally)...

Buying you in headbands...

You soft and squishy thighs...

The way you say "tickle" and "hi" and "uh oh"...

How big you look when I walk into your room and you're standing up in your crib...

How adorable you are in Sunday dresses...

The way you hand us your food when you're "all done"...

How excited you still get when you see food...

Peeking around the corner to see you sitting on daddy's lap reading books...

How quickly you catch on to things right now...

Seeing you sleeping in your comfy car seat...

That you're my easy goin' shopping buddy...

That you sleep through the night (thank you!)...

Your tiny tennis shoes...

Your fake laugh...
Your love of nature...

How easy of a teether you've been...
Your enthusiasm...

The way you lounge when swinging...

How happy you are when you see Miss Kathy and your friends...

When you lay your head on my shoulder when you're sleepy...

Building tall towers with you...

Sharing treats with you. (Shhh...don't tell daddy)...

Your hilarious face when playing "I'm gonna get you"...

The way you love all animals...

How you randomly get excited and flutter your hands and point your toes...

How quickly your crawl to the door when either of us gets home...

When you're obedient (which is "most" of the time)...

The way you tickle us and we laugh and laugh...

Your love of YouTube videos, including videos of yourself...

Seeing you with your cousins...

Hearing you talk to yourself and carry on conversations...

How sweet you are when you give kisses...

How relaxed you get when getting a back rub/scratch...

Going on family walks...
Your love of all things music...
Sneaking into your room and lingering over your crib while you're sleeping...

How you almost always want what we're eating, even though you just ate...

Having a baby model always at my finger tips...

Taking you to the park...

How fast you go up and down the stairs...

Singing lots and lots of songs...

Washing your socks, sleepers, dresses, shirts and leggins'...

Seeing you interact with other kids and church and play dates...

Experiencing new things with you - like the zoo...

How both of us think you look exactly like us (you seriously look just like me)...

Seeing you take your first steps...

How annoyed you get when we try to get you to walk to us...

Hearing you giggle while wrestling on the bed with daddy...

Your chubby cheeks...

Your long and lean body...
The way you rub your eyes when you're so sleepy....
How sweet you smell after your baths...
Our Tuesdays and Fridays home together...

The way you cover your mouth when you fake cough...

The way you point your toes when you're happy and when you're mad...

How easy you are to run errands with...
How hard you try to hold up one finger when I ask "how old are you?"...

How tidy of an eater you are...

Your hilarious dancing skills...
The way your head still fits perfectly in the crook of my elbow when you nurse...
Talking about you to anyone who will listen...
The random times you just want to be held...
Finally seeing you sign "more please" and "all done"...

The way you blow kisses...

How much you love ketchup...

What a ham you are when you know you're funny...

Watching old videos of you...

Playing "where is Gwendolyn?!"...

Your big and beautiful hazel eyes...

How serious you can randomly be...

Getting to see you after being away all day...

Rocking you to sleep...

Seeing you play with your first doll house...

Capturing many of your milestones on camera...

Your love of puffs...
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Gwendolyn,

I am blessed to be your mommy. I don't take a single second of it for granted, and I am so grateful to be in the front row of your life. You are unlike any other 13.5 month old I know! Your daddy and I constantly talk about how much we love and cherish and adore you. Sometimes we miss you even when you're just sleeping in the other room! You're quite popular in this house.

You're so easy  going and laid back, which is funny b/c I used to think you weren't. I'm kind of glad that changed *smile. It's true what they say about each stage being even better than the last - I thought for sure nothing could top you as a tiny newborn, but boy was  I was wrong! My heart grows bigger every single day. You are a gift from above girl!

A year ago today you were just a month and a half old - you had just started smiling and we were still  getting into our routine. Now you're almost walking and talking up a storm. My, how things change in  only 365 days!

Being a mom is a tough job, but it's worth every dirty diaper changing, face cleaning, nose blowing (if you can call it that), floor vacuuming, tiny sock washing, car seat loading, 20 pound baby carrying, book reading, toy gathering moment. 

I know I'm not perfect as a mom and we have a lot to still figure out, but we're trying our best and I can assure you that you'll never run out of love. You are beyond blessed to have two grandma's and wonderful aunts to love on you and teach you the ways of Truth - we wish them a Happy Mother's Day as well!!

I love you so much, sweet Gwendolyn!

Always and forever grateful,

Mommy