One

Last night as I put my little girl to sleep, a tear fell on her sweet face. I sang Amazing Grace to her as I have done every night of her life. I prayed over her and thanked God for her life and her health. And then a tear fell. She didn't know tonight was any different, but tonight she was no longer a baby.

Her toddlerhood has been rapidly descending upon us in the month or more since she started walking and talking. This morning I put away all the baby things that still cluttered her closet--the Boppy pillow she fit so snugly upon when she was just days and weeks old; the size small sleepsacks; the remnants of a struggle with nursing. I realized it had been overtaken with size 18 months clothes and shoes with real soles. How and when did this happen?

At one, she says fish, duck, cheese, socks, shoes, yes, no, push, eyes, head, hair, ears, diaper. She holds the phone (her hand) up to her ear when the phone rings. She points to her toes. She sings to her babies.

We celebrated Lindsay's first birthday with our family and closest friends and Lindsay's little playdate buddies. I arduously baked some vanilla cupcakes with strawberry buttercream frosting for the big day. When it came time to put the birthday girl in her chair for her first experience with buttercream, she relished the attention. We lit the little pink candle in her mini cupcake and she watched with wonder as the flame flickered. What is all this? We sang happy birthday, dear Lindsay, and she clapped at the end. A little politician in the making?

We love watching her grow.

Update: At her 1-year check-up, she weighed 21 lbs. 4 oz. (50th) and measured 32 inches (99th).