Maddie officially enters the toddler years today. It never ceases to amaze me how much they change in this first year. From baby snuggled against you, learning to focus and hold up their heads to a chubby little girl crawling and climbing and chattering. The smell of newborn has long faded. The eyesight has become sharp and curiosity beats the desire to snuggle. We no longer wonder if her eyes will be brown or blue. The smiles are quick to appear and the clapping at everything is so exciting. The exhaustion of the first newborn months have become a fuzzy and happy memory, the fear and dread of a c-section seems so long ago.
She is busy waving and walking around tables. Sturdy little legs learning to take their first step. She is such a happy little girl. Beaming and copying everything her siblings do. She has this idea that she can outrun us. She has another idea that open mouth kisses cures all and when someone is upset she scrambles up beside them to offer comfort in the way she knows best, a big wet kiss.
She is a joy during the day and a bit of a terror at night. I wish I had the same ability, to awake in the morning from a night of wake-ups and chatter and sing throughout the day. She does. And yet, the wake-ups seem not so bad the next morning for the zest of life overcomes. This little girl has brought so much joy into this house, I'm excited to see what the next year will bring!
