Happy, happy, happy BIRTHDAY!!

Today, Maggie turns ONE. *sigh* So much going on in my head...bittersweet is the best word. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of the last year. Not just with Maggie, but with our family...she has changed us, as any child does, but her presence makes us all smile. I call her my angel...there is something about her spirit that seems absolutely heavenly.

Maggie, as you turn one, here is what you are up to:

• You are a thumb sucker...when you are tired, hungry, or upset.
• You love to eat black olives, just like your mama :)
• You also love to try new things...your latest new favorite: peanut butter.
• You LOVE to play with your big brothers and sister, 'tag', peek-a-boo, little people farm, books, puzzles, etc...anything...you adore the big kids in your life.
• We call you our raccoon...for some reason you love to dig through the trash.
• You love to walk and walk and walk, you are a very busy baby.
• You sign and it is AMAZING...drink, please, eat, all done, book, help, more...and pick them up really fast now.
• You have many words: drink, help, up, Mama, Dada, Isaac, book, moo, baa, woof, oink, yes, please, Mace...probably more, and your vocabulary is expanding rapidly.
  
• You LISTEN! If you have a remote I will say "Bring it to Mommy!" and you do...angel :)
• You have learned to open cabinets, every single one of them, and empty them all over the floor.
• You nap still twice a day most days, and are still up most nights at least once.
• I love our mornings...I sleepily pluck you from your crib, you nurse in our bed, then you LOVE to play in our big bed and wake us up.
  
• You LOVE your gingy (blanket), you hold the yarnies when you suck your thumb, just like your biggest brother and sister did.
  
• You are very shy and cautious of strangers.
• You cry whenever I leave the room.
• I love how when I am on the floor and open my arms you will come running into them smiling and laughing...every.single.time.
• I love how you ask for your snuggles.
• I love watching you fall asleep as I rock and nurse you, then how you wake up when I put you in your crib and put your thumb in, roll over, and go to sleep.
• You love to play with your hair...especially as you go to sleep.
• You dislike hats/headbands/hair bows/etc...and will always pull them out.
• You have 8 teeth.
• You weigh about 20 pounds and are about 31.5 inches.
• You love your Daddy and will welcome him at the door every time he comes home...you will practically LEAP from my arms to get to him if I am holding you.

How are we celebrating? With PLAYGROUP first...the wonderful friends that were praying for us the moment of Maggie's birth, and Maggie's (and my!) bestest friends :) Oh, and notice the post time...11:13am, the minute of Maggie's birth :) Then, of course, we'll celebrate tonight before going to Mason's play at school....pictures of all to come later!

Without further ado, here is Maggie's one year slide show. Every bit of this has very special meaning to me...the songs (to my Mom, it's no coincidence there's a little Mr. Presley in here for you...redone...but the song is perfect), and each picture has something about Maggie and her year of many 'firsts' that is special.

Sweet Magdalene, my heart was forever changed the day you were born. Each day with you it is a joy and a blessing to be your mother. I love you, sweet angel...you.are.my.heart.

Maggie's 1st year from Sonia Cushing on Vimeo.