Thankful For You

One Year, One Day

Gwen celebrated her 1st birthday yesterday. We had her party on Saturday and everything was perfect - 5 months of planning really paid off. So many wonderful memories were made and I am looking forward to another year of wonder and magic with my sweet, little girl.

Thanksgiving last year was spent in the hospital, but I had so much to be thankful for; namely a perfect, adorable newborn. This year I am thankful for the past 12 months - watching her grow and change, and I am in awe at how quickly she is becoming her own little person with likes and dislikes. Looking forward to her second Christmas and a visit to see SANTA! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Reminiscing

11 Months, 3 weeks

One year ago today I was 40 weeks pregnant with Gwen. I was ready to meet my sweet little munchkin, but she had other plans. With an induction date set, little did I know I still had a week to go. I can remember that night heading home from work and stopping off at Petsmart to pick up dog food for the fur babies. The cashier was really sweet and we chatted for a moment and then the inevitable question came up: "So when are you due?" My reply: "Today." I'll never forget that exchange with the cashier, because at that point her eyes got incredibly large like I was a ticking time bomb with seconds left to explosion. It was so funny, and all that week I really did feel like a ticking time bomb.

It's hard to believe that in seven short days that little, screaming, pink baby I nursed in my arms for the first time in the recovery room will be one year old. No longer an infant but an official toddler; cruising along furniture, waving bye-bye, pointing, clapping, babbling, eating solids, and soooo close to walking. With each passing day, Gwen amazes me more than the previous as she grows and learns. She is getting so big and the random nights that are spent awake rocking her back to sleep are becoming more and more precious.

Dear Gwen

10 months, 1 week

Dear Gwen:

Sometimes at night I will hear you stir and I'll watch you on the monitor. You toss and turn and I wonder what you are dreaming of. Your puppy dogs? Your kitty cat? The fun you had from playing all day with minimal naps?

You are getting so big! So bright! So incredibly cute and funny.

You've started daycare a few days a week. I was so worried in the beginning, but I know you have so much fun playing with the other children. I love seeing the artwork you "create" with the help from your teachers, and I am secretely plotting on how I can "steal" it from the classroom walls to proudly display on our fridge.

You've gotten germs and consequently sick. I've fretted and felt completely powerless to make you feel well. Worst. Feeling. In. The. World. It's funny, how now that you are here, your well-being is the most important thing in the world to me. Nothing else matters. Any little sniffle, sneeze, or cough sends me into panic mode. I want only to see you thrive. You do.

You are crawling. EVERY WHERE. And when I hold your hands and you take those little tippy-toed steps my heart melts completely. Very soon you will be running all over the place without my help.

Every morning that I am greeted by those great big, good morning smiles makes me glad it's another day but I miss you terribly when I'm at work and not with you. I used to worry that you wouldn't bond with me the way I have bonded with you, but when you see me after a long day away, you flash me a toothy grin and make a bee-line right for me. Best. Feeling. In. The. World.

It's hard to believe almost a year has gone by. So very soon we will be celebrating your first birthday! Wow. Can I stop time? Just for a little while?

You make me happy. So very HAPPY.

I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

More Milestones and Fernbank Fun

8 Months, 1 Week

Wow. This past month has flown by. I really wish I could remember to post more often, but life with an 8 month old is starting to get very interesting and between work and being a mother, I am kept very busy!

Gwen can crawl! Well, mostly. She still hasn't quite figured how to get up on her knees, but she will use her arms and kick her legs and drag herself across the floor. Remember long ago how I called her my Zombie Baby? Well that was back when she would make strange noises, now it's because of her "crawl".

She is getting to be such a big little girl! She is so smart and hangs on every word we say. I just know she is taking it all in; my little sponge. She loves to string the sounds "da" and "na" together. If only she would say "ma". I know my heart would just melt!

Teeth! Gwen is working on 2 more! First, her two bottom teeth came in. Now she has her two top teeth trying to work their way through her gums. You can see them just underneath. Poor thing has had a couple of pretty miserable days here and there thanks to those teeth, and they are still not all the way in!

We took Gwen to Fernbank's Natural Museum of Science and History last weekend. We took tons of pictures and Gwen had a fun time. She is definitely a "people watcher" like her mommy - my little "nosey pants", ha ha ha. We went to see the Mythical Creatures Exhibit and it was very fascinating. There is a GIANT Unicorn on display and Bryan captured a fantastic picture of Gwen and myself. Gwen was so in awe of that Unicorn. I think the verdict might be in: Mommy loves owls, but Gwen loves Unicorns!!! Of course, we had to buy her one of her very own - luckily, hers, is much smaller.

Gwen was IN LOVE with the majestic Unicorn.

A Unicorn of Gwen's very own!

Five Month Countdown!

7 Months, 1 Week

As Gwen quickly approaches her first birthday I can't help but get so excited. I am glad it is still five months away, because the thought of her being a year old already is CRAZY! But at the same time, I am thrilled to begin planning the first of many, many wonderful birthday celebrations to come!

I know that some people go overboard when it comes to a child's first birthday. A party at that age is more for the parents, family, and friends, then it is for the child. However, how can one not celebrate, with zeal, all the amazing, wonderful, breath-taking moments that have led up to that day? The changes that take place in a child's first year of life are amazing! So much happens in such a tiny span of time. No matter if the party is for 10 people or 100, I think a first birthday should be extra special.

I'm giving myself plenty of time to come up with some super cute ideas for her party; I don't plan on things getting expensive - just very thoughtful. So much fun! To the drawing board!

Eat your Veggies!

6 months, 3 weeks, 6 days

Gwen has graduated to baby food! And she LOVES it. It's actually been about three weeks since we started her on the jars of very runny (basically liquified) vegetables, but today is the first day I thought to blog about it.

Green beans were first up, and although she ate them, I could tell they weren't going to be her favorite. Next up were peas and Gwen LOVED them thanks to their natural sweetness. Sweet Potatoes are also a big hit with her. Carrots? Not so fond of them, and Squash also seems to not be one of her favorites.

Although I have read that babies this age still haven't fully developed their taste buds, I like to think that she will continue to love her vegetables as she gets older. I remember as a child there were a few vegetables I wasn't a big fan so it will be interesting to see what she thinks of those less "popular" ones as she grows.

New Tricks

6 Months, 3 weeks, 2 days

Gwen is one week shy of seven months and she has a few new tricks up her sleeve. She can sit unassisted (although every now and then she loses her balance) and, when lying on her tummy, can pivot with her arms to grab her favorite toys. It is so amazing to see her grow and reach new milestones.

Before we know it she will be crawling, so babyproofing the house is definitely in order! Gates? Check. Wall outlet covers? Check. Cabinet safety locks? Need to purchase. And the list goes on...