Maggie, who turns thirteen months old today, has just mastered the fine art of walking. For a few weeks she careened through the hall like she had been shot out of a pinball machine, bouncing haphazardly from side to side and then falling in a giggling heap when she ran out of steam.

Now she walks around the pew at church looking like a little bell with legs in her poofy dress, peeking her little face around the edges and charming the pants off everyone she meets. She is absolutely in love with walking and you can see the delight on her face every time she toddles across a room. Whirling like a dervish, she has managed to earn a few bruises and they look so out of place on her gentle little self, not at all appropriate like they were on her rough and tumble big brother.

Her hair is getting longer every day. It is in her eyes and sticks out wildly when it hasn’t been pulled into two little fountains on the top of her head. Chris calls her a little weed when her hair in unruly, and it does fit; she looks like a half blown dandelion. I have been in my glory buying hair clips to match every outfit, and have even taught her to sit still and be patient while I clip her hair into place and then we look at the cute baby with the cute hair things in the mirror and she pats her reflection and exclaims, “Dweee! Doo doo doo daaaa,” which I can only assume means, “Mom, you rock, and I look amazing. Have your people call my people and we’ll do lunch.”

She has become so expressive, both verbally and facially. She now puts her mouth into a little excited “Oh!” when she ges to eat her favorite applesauce or bananas, and when she is happy to see me she gives me the squishy face of joy where she squinches up her eyes and cheeks and gives me a cute little blink. She giggles and laughs at our family, and wants to spend all of her time being held or tickled. When she isn’t being snuggled, she is walking toward us, hoping for more affection, and it’s impossible not to give in.

She is totally enamored with her big brother Jonas. Aside from being the one with all the cool toys, Jonas is quick to hug Maggie and so concerned about her well being. He is always making sure Maggie is getting a treat too and gets so lonely when she takes her nap. They make each other laugh, and there is no sound I love more. They do get frustrated with each other sometimes, because it is hard to learn to share toys and to not always be able to keep up, but they make up for the difficulties with so much enthusiasm for sharing the fun of life.

Maggie is still nursing and I love that she is so content as we cuddle in bed and doze blissfully. Her security and contentedness gives me peace. These are the moments in the day when I feel the most relaxed. She loves to have her cheeks stroked and often sighs contentedly as she stops nursing and snuggles in to get more comfortable, milk bubbles still on her pink lips. She will lift her heavy eyelids to gaze at my face, and when she is satisfied that she is secure, she drifts off to sleep looking like an angel.

Lately, I have spent a lot of time looking at my daughter and wondering how I ever got by without her particular brand of love in my life. Aside from being impossibly cute, there is something so sweet about her that I just want to bottle it and keep it forever, maybe pour it on the world in all of the places people are hurting, because the kind of joy she brings is so healing and so innocent. I marvel at her on a daily basis. This is the joy motherhood brings.