• Christmas Play
• Maggie hit the toy jackpot w/ her birthday and Christmas
• New Year’s Fireworks

Well, it’s finally here, our precious baby girl is a year old today! This past year has been the craziest, happiest, scariest, best year of my life. Being a dad is the greatest thing in the world and I couldn’t be happier, but I’m not going to lie to you – when Maggie was born I was scared to death! At that point I had never even changed a diaper. Of course, that was something Lisa quickly remedied! But I tried my hardest, Lisa helped me a long, and I learned that I wasn’t the only parent who didn’t get a manual but that you learn as you go. I know that every year won’t be like this one, some will be harder and others easier, but there is nothing else in the world worth all you have than your family – and I have the best wife and daughter I could have ever asked or hoped for! I also have the best parents, in-laws, and friends in the world, too!

Maggie girl, don’t tell you mommy this, but you are absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me in my whole life. Nothing will ever change your life like having children, and you changed my life in the best possible ways. I know I haven’t done everything right this year but you’ve been patient with me as a daddy and I’m gonna keep on keepin’ on doing everything I can to learn and grow as a parent. Like I said, you’ve made me so happy – you are amazing, and I want to be a daddy you deserve. I love you baby girl!

Month Summary:

• She walked early in Month 12
• First Birthday Party on the 11th

• Started pulling up on her own, walking along furniture, and even stood up on her own…
• Mommy and Maggie went to Cincinnati, Grandmomma got married, and the girls, me, and Mommy and Daddy went to Chattanooga…

• Started holding on and standing
• Maggie played her first game of kickball…

• Just chillin’… no major milestones this month, just a precious baby developing at her own pace

• Maggie started crawling!

She crawls! Maggie is officially mobile. Let all items loved by the child below couch level beware – she is coming for you! Don’t worry, she can be gentle sometimes.

On of this month’s highlights was July 4th. I was more than a little partial because I got a whole day with my baby girl. But not only that Maggie got to see her first Fourth of July fireworks, twice. I know, I know there was Stone Mountain – that’s why I said Fourth of July Fireworks! We actually went out to a shindig Uncle Phillip was helping with on the third, which is where the picture below comes from. She absolutely loved the fireworks! Now, she never let loose the locked grip she had on Lisa’s shirt, but she was definately having herself a good time. Then on July 4th we got to hang out with our friends from the church Praise Team. We all had a great time, and Maggie got more than her fair share of attention! Not to mention she got her first sparkler!

But the month overall was really just cool. She’s just really out of that little baby stage and starting to really progress. You can see in her eyes and her expressions when she plays with her toys that she’s not just entertained, but that’s she’s actually trying to figure things out. Of course with a little bit more awareness comes a little bit more expression, and goodness knows that she lacks not for that! Especially when we are trying to get her to eat. But at least she is my girl, so she never really turns away food – she just has to figure out how she can mess with mommy and daddy while eating!

Sweet girl, I don’t have the words for you! Your personality is really starting to show, and I’m afraid you’re going to be more like me than will be good for you. At least you have your momma’s looks! It’s such a special thing to watch you with your toys, watching those little hands and little fingers just fumble with those toys with all your might. And then when you finally get that toy, or pen – you have found a distinct fascination with daddy’s pens, you are desperately working the look in your eyes is the most beautiful thing! You impress me every single day and with the special child you are I doubt that will ever change!

     Now, while getting a tooth is a pretty monumental adventure, the biggest adventure for Maggie, however, was probably our second family vacation – our annual famliy vacation to the beach with Lisa’s family. Me, Lisa, Maggie, Phillip, and Kevin all packed up on Friday night and headed to Mobile where we camped that night and woke up the next morning and made the rest of the trip. We would have made it all on Friday night had we known how close we were and if I had gotten off work any earlier. You live and learn. Maggie was a real trooper and did absolutely great. She also didn’t seem to mind her first night in a tent, although it did take her a little bit of time to get to sleep because she wanted to play with the tag in the corner of the tent – what a cutie.

     The next day we headed on down to Gulf Shores where later that afternoon we met up with Lisa’s family and began what would turn out to be a fun little vacation. It was a lot different this year, that’s for sure. Not only did we have a baby this time, but we dragged along two of our friends this time to! But all in all, I think everyone had a good time. Maggie got her first swim in a pool and in the ocean! We had bought her this cool little float that was supposed to allow her to “sit” in it, but still splash in the water. I think she was really too small to fit so we had to carry in the water, but with a baby that cool who really minds? Of course we still couldn’t manage to catch her rollover although we know she did it at least twice while we were at the beach!

     Maggie girl, you mean the whole wild world to me! You have meant so much to me that I don’t know if I can ever give back to you. I’m so proud of how big and strong you are growing that it almost scares me to see what’s going to happen in the next six months because you’re definately not staying my little girl. But that’s okay, because I want you to grow up big and strong to be exactly the person you were born to be. There are going to be alot of time I wish you weren’t growing up so fast, but I know you also have you your life to live! No matter what happens I will always see you as my little girl, but I promise I’ll always do what I can to help you become the woman God has planned for you to be! I love you my sweet, still little, girl!

     Well, this month we took our first family vacation to Stone Mountain. It was a lot colder than we were anticipating. In fact, we did not prepare for the cold at all and had to go buy sweatshirts!! and in May too!! Maggie got her first train ride. She spent it in the Snugli next to Daddy, the human heater. Daddy and I were not quite as warm however! The highlight of the trip was the laser show, of course. Maggie slept through dinner and the stroller ride to the mountain. As soon as the fireworks started going off and the music started, her eyes popped open. She watched, wide-eyed, the whole 45 minutes. It was so cold that we bundled her up in her stroller with about 5 blankets. The only thing that we could see of her was her nose and eyes. She loved the whole show. Of course, she slept great that night!

     Maggie passed another milestone this month. She decided that she wanted to eat real food. While we were eating breakfast one morning in Georgia, she started pitching a fit because she wasn’t getting anything to eat. When we got back, we started her on cereal and fruit. So far, she loves everything that she puts in her mouth….but I guess she comes by it honestly!

     Well, I think that about wraps up this month! I can’t imagine what life would be like without this little bundle of joy. When things aren’t going the way I think they should, all she has to do is smile and giggle at me to put me in a better frame of mind. There’s no way to describe the love that I feel for her.

     Speaking of her having hold of my fingers – that reminds me of the apendage contol update. We have officially gone from trying to grad to all out playing. But we aren’t just satisfied with playing, everything that gets in her hands goes straight to the mouth. We were actually at my mom’s one night when Mom gave Maggie a toy that was actually just a little big for her to play with and in the process of trying to get the toy in her mouth she actually smacked herself in the head. This utterly startled, blank look came over her until she saw the toy again and was ready to try it again. Not to Daddy and Mommy: be very careful what gets within arms reach of baby for it will be grabbed and put in mouth. Although there are some high points – she’s starting to help hold her bottle now which really takes a load off.

     One thing I will always remember about this period in Maggie’s development is her and a Baby Einstein Discover & Play Activity Gym we bought her. This has to be one of the single best toys we have bought for her. We decided to get her the gym when we noticed her losing interest in her bouncy seat in favor of staring at and attempting to grasp things. Fifteen minutes after the gym was set up and she started playing on it we knew we had a winner. We were in Target looking at the different ones they had and wondered if it was really worth the price tag (check the link). But all questions were answered the first time that baby girl played with it, and every time since we needed to get something done. If it wasn’t as late that night as it was she would have played a good hour or two – which she has done often in the days since.

     This month really has been an awesome development month for her – every month has it’s own unique things that happens or she does that just blows our mind. Last month was the first month I think she actually just laughed out loud, especially during DrumTime. But this little girl is getting so much more personality. It’s really cool to see her react different to different toys – how she prefers one over the other at times, and even how she prefers people. One person who just lights up her little eyes is my friend Kevin – everytime she sees him she just grins the biggest grin and in response she gets the biggest goofy face he can make which sends her to smiles and giggles. Every once in awhile it even gets her out of daycare to tour the church with Kev (he works for the church that Lisa’s school is attatched to). But it’s even more cool that Lisa and I get the same reaction from her, her seeing us and immediately grinning or even laughing at us. That girl is amazing.

     This is paragraph is utterly random, but I thought about Easter and it made me think… One thing Lisa and I have realized is that Deborah will always buy Maggie cuter clothes than us, no matter how hard we try. Example? Easter dress. We tried to find her a cute one, and while there were definite contenders, what won? That’s right, a dress Deb bought her. What can I say, she makes the dress look good. But she was defintately a winner this Easter.

     Baby girl, this month you have made me the happiest daddy in the world. My life hasn’t been the same since the day you were born – it’s been an amazing journey with you. but the changes you’ve made this past month have been absolutely amazing! There is no feeling in the world like when I walk into the house after a long work day and as soon as you see me you smile and laugh – just because you’ve seen me. I love you baby girl, and in that moment I know beyond any doubt you know that and love me too. There is nothing like that, Maggie. The time we are spending together now is so precious to me, I just can’t tell you. Everyday is something new, something special, and everyday I love you more. I hope and pray I can always be a daddy that your first reaction to seeing me is that beautiful smile that I cherish. Love you, baby girl.