Maggie at Thirteen Months (Occasionally This Is A Full Blown Mommy Blog)
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.
Lou, she is precious. Your words were filled with love while talking about her. I loved it.
Comment by Kim — January 19, 2006 @ 8:51 pm
Your writing is so expressive, I almost feel like I love Maggie as well!
Comment by Teresa — January 20, 2006 @ 12:11 am
Must. Have. Daughter.
Comment by capello — January 20, 2006 @ 12:55 am
lou, I miss you and your kids so much. Maggie looks so grown up. I cant wait to have a daughter to call my own! Miss you tons!
Comment by crystal — January 20, 2006 @ 2:58 am
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!! You have a great way with words!!!!
Comment by Adrienne — January 20, 2006 @ 3:11 am
Gorgeous pictures Lou!!
Comment by DenimRose — January 20, 2006 @ 4:13 am
What an adorable and precious little girl. I know she is the light of your life! Great photographs, too.
Comment by Carol — January 20, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
Lou, she is so beautiful! I want to just gobble up her cheeks and I love the pigtails. The way you write about her is beautiful too.
Comment by Kristin — January 20, 2006 @ 1:42 pm
What cute tights!
Comment by Susie — January 20, 2006 @ 3:35 pm
She’s perfect!
Comment by Katrine — January 20, 2006 @ 3:56 pm
I just love the little feet- the tiny shoes! Sweet, man.
Comment by scott — January 20, 2006 @ 6:26 pm
Awwwwwwwwwww! Sweetness.
Comment by Lawanda — January 21, 2006 @ 4:00 am
Awwwwwwwwwww! Sweetness.
Comment by Lawanda — January 21, 2006 @ 4:02 am
Oops, sorry about the double post! :-p
Comment by Lawanda — January 21, 2006 @ 4:05 am
The words you use to paint the picture of her at 13-months are amazing and very expressive.
As for your Maggie, she’s beautiful! Happy belated 13-months Maggie!
Comment by Nicole — January 21, 2006 @ 4:07 am
that child is completely adorable. and i know adorable from adorable.
Comment by s — January 21, 2006 @ 12:35 pm
Your daughter is so cute !!!She looks bigger than my 2 year old .
You take very good pictures.
Comment by Lisa — January 21, 2006 @ 5:07 pm
Where do you get those great stockings? ..and that baby is cute too
- you’re right though, the joy is immeasurable.
Comment by tj — January 22, 2006 @ 7:34 pm
You are a great photographer and I could eat those pigtales for breakfast. So cute!
Comment by Kathryn, the daring one — January 23, 2006 @ 6:25 am
See, Lou, this is why I love you. That was amazing, the words and the pictures. You remind me of how wonderful it was to have little ones around (though my daughter would never put up with me doing anything to her hair
). If it wasn’t impossible for me to have more I’d be in total baby lust now…as it is, I’ll just relive it all vicariously through you 
She’s just too precious!
Comment by SignoraM — January 24, 2006 @ 4:09 am
The more photos I see, the more I want more photos! She’s such a cutie- but how could she not be. I really loved reading what things you wrote about your life with her. It’s all precious.
Comment by Sanisi — January 25, 2006 @ 1:40 pm
You make some good lookin kids, Lou! She is a doll!
Comment by soapbox.SUPERSTAR — January 26, 2006 @ 4:10 pm
This is beautiful, Lou. What a lovely post.
Comment by coolbeans — January 28, 2006 @ 4:21 pm
Aha, I see you are a fellow Gymboree junkie. Love the hairbows. Your blog is beautiful, this is my first visit. I’ll be back.
Comment by Karen — February 1, 2006 @ 12:40 am