Maggie, it's your birthday...

Mags turned the big ol ONE on 10-10 (as you already know of course). We had some present opening, took her to the zoo, and had cake that day.  Her big ol party was this past Saturday.  And since pictures speak a thousand words, I'll let them do most of the talking. :)

Just waking up and opening presents....what's this all about??

Hmm....I think I like this birthday stuff.

Here, Maggie, let me show you how it works. Or just steal it from you.

Check out my new doll and my new phone (we quickly discovered we should
have gotten a phone for PJ as well, and now we have two phones so there's no
ripping of the phone out of each other's hand, okay???).

Man, these people have bad voices.

I gots me some cake!

Mmm.  Cake.

Outside getting ready for her party...

So lady like.

Having a snack and leaving her crown on for 2.7 seconds.

Present time!! PJ was very helpful.

Another cake?  This is FANTASTIC.

See how she's eyeballing PJ's cupcake? 
Baby girl there is an ENTIRE CAKE ON YOUR TRAY!

Do I really have to have this on my head??

AHHH! Look at the cake!

Oh well.  It's my party, I'll stick frosting in my hair if I want to.

One year ago today...

Dear Maggie,

One year ago today you came into our lives.  You were just six days early, not sixteen like your brother.  You were anxious to meet us, since I was only in labor for about 7 hours. 

You came out beautiful.  A full head of hair, precious eyes, gorgeous face.  I fell in love, again, the moment I saw you.

We struggled  a bit your first few months on earth, due to the reflux you had. But we made it through.  You became a happy, giggly, sweet baby girl.  You love to eat, and pretty much eat anything!!  Hopefully your big brother will follow your lead soon.

It has been a joy watching you discover new things, watching you desperately try to roll over, sit, crawl, stand and finally, now, walk after watching PJ do it through your big beautiful blue eyes.  You giggle so often, it's one of the sounds that is in my daily life that I enjoy so much.  You even giggle in the morning when you first wake up, and I come to get you.  Hiding under your blanket like we are playing peek a boo.   Then you clap excitedly when I "find" you.

Nothing about you ever ceases to amaze me.  Be it the fact that your appetite is pretty much mine in smaller form, or that you try to say "mine" or "more" (usually about food) or when you and PJ play together -- and he's actually being nice to you. ;)  You are so beautiful, I sometimes wonder how it's possible you came from me.

I have loved watching you grow over your first year.  Watching you turn from a newborn, to an infant, to a toddler.  I love the sheer joy on your face when you first discovered you could walk.  How happy you were when you made it over to me and collapsed into my arms into a fit of giggles.  How excited you get when I walk into a room.  How much your daddy loves you and you do, indeed, have him wrapped around your little finger.

This is the first of many birthdays, baby girl.  I hope they continued to get better and better, and I hope you always know that this day will always be one of the three best days of my life.

Happy 1st Birthday Maggie.  I love you more than you will ever know.

Love, Mommy