Where is Gwendolyn?

If you ever can't find her, just check behind the curtain...

I bet that's where she'll be!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Gwendolyn has been very busy...

Here's what she's been up to:

• Cutting THREE teeth (molars) with another one currently coming in on the bottom left. She really is a champ when it comes to teething, but  Tylenol has still become a part of our regular night time routine. (I continue to give a lot of credit to her necklace.)

• Learning new words..."hi" and "uh oh" and "all done." Those are words that she somewhat "clearly" says, but it's been amazing the other words that she just knows...bear, drum, drink, cat, puppy, blankie, eat, down, clap, baby, wink, hug, kiss, ball, pat pat, head, tickle, belly button, bye-bye, shake shake, rock-a-rock-a, "please shut the door, Gwendolyn," and "please come back here, Gwendolyn." Those are just the ones that she reacts to that I've noticed. It's truly amazing! I feel like I'm always thinking..."what else can I teach her?!" It's so fun!

• Finally getting used to using her sippy cup. She can hold it on her own and understands that she needs to tilt it back. Kathy still gives her one bottle a day, but otherwise it's just sippy. That was definitely a process - I knew not to rush it b/c I had heard it takes a while for them to catch on, and that was very true!

• We've discovered she much prefers raw veggies over cooked veggies - who would have thought! To be honest, we don't give her veggies b/c she just refuses them (any tips?!) but recently she'll eat raw broccoli or zucchini or whatever if it has some dip on it. I'll take it!

• Garage saleing! We were without daycare last Thursday and again yesterday so I was blessed to have a four-day weekend with her (daddy stayed home yesterday) and take advantage of the Woodbury city wide garage sale opening day. We've always gone on day two or three in previous years. We had so much fun together and found some great deals. Including her first doll house, which she looooves. It was only $9 and came with a big bag of toys to go along with it. Grandma and Grandpa Sinclair came up and the four of us went out again on Friday. Had a ball!

Obviously she doesn't play pretend yet so mostly she just has her family jump off the balcony...over and over again...but she thinks it rocks!

See...her family jumped off the balcony.

Gwendolyn saved them!

She also got a "condo" for $2 which is hilarious...I love all things miniature! The washing machine spins and the toilet paper turns. It's the small things...

Check out our pile of Ralph Lauren, Gap, Janie & Jack, and other like new clothes 

(some still with tags on!)

• And the biggest news...she's truly, officially, honestly WALKING! She'd taken a few very cautious steps before, but then last night she just randomly took off like no one's business. Outta no where! Someone got some confidence!

I'm guessing things aren't about to slow down now!

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

Watch out, everybody!

Somebody is awalkin'

I was not home when this was happening, but thankfully Tom was able to catch the very tail end of her first unassisted steps.

You don't even know how many times we've tried to get her to walk towards us. I guess we just should have had Uncle John over to help us out - who knew! Apparently walking to him is a lot more fun than walking to mommy and daddy. Little stinker!

April in Pictures

All dressed up to go play with toys and friends at church.

I love awkward sleeping baby pictures.

Playing with "cat" and her baby monitor. I mean, why not?

So sweet before her 12-month shots...

And sweet afterwards too! (This was after being quite mad and shedding a few tears.)

The things parents do to make their children smile....

Baby Luke...

Love me some new baby snuggles!

Swimming at the YMCA with Aunt Nikki and cousin, Jacob! So.much.fun.

JUMP!

First swimming lesson: Aunt Nikki teaching Gwendolyn how to kick, kick, kick.

Could she be any more hilarious and adorable?

First pickle, and she liked it!

Yep, this family went strolling along the streets of Eden Prairie. We were quite the sight.

Snuggle bug.

Ride, anyone?

(If you do ride with her, hold on tight.)

Finally Gwendolyn is interested in the baby.

Stopping to praise Jesus.

Uncle Greg was captivating while playing "Salad Bowl."

She is seriously such a trooper...totally past her bedtime but just loves being at the party.

Back rub from daddy.

Her new face when she sees a flash coming...

Easter Sunday:

Playing hard..

"Hugging" cat...so sweet!

Ring Around the Rosy (doesn't quite understand the "all fall down.")

Love them...

Just when I think I didn't take "any" pictures, I go back and see that I basically captured every moment. Ha. Would you expect anything else? C'mon now...

I LOVE this stage! She has picked up so much it seems overnight. I love that she can finally show her love back to us with hugs and kisses. In fact, just 10 minutes ago she backed up - with a rattle in each hand - and plunked down in my lap. Heart melted. She and I have shared so many special moments just today... 

nursing and cuddling this morning

swinging at the park (she likes it again!)

watching birds and squirrels out in the back yard (we saw a Cardinal!)

sampling foods and flirting with employees at Trader Joe's (Gwendolyn, not me)

singing and dancing our hearts out to praise music

"playing" our new favorite game - Ring Around the Rosy 

having a tea party with all of our stuffed friends

I love being a Mama and I love that she's my daughter!

Blessings to you this weekend!