I can't believe this is happening this week!

"Gwen is turning 1 one Thursday!" I say to myself.
"Really?" I question, "Are you sure?"

I'm baffled at how fast the first year goes, even though it seems like she's always been a part of our lives. Did we ever just have one child? How can it really be that just a year ago, Gwen was a chubby 9lb 3oz helpless baby, and now she's forming all sorts of opinions, learning new things everyday and walking everywhere? I think I must have blinked. Some of her latest accomplishments include:
Walking everywhere with confidence
"Folding" her arms for prayers
Thinking that every animal growls
Pointing when she hears something, like birds outside
Throwing full on tantrums, complete with screaming, throwing her head back and going limp.
Knowing when things are hot and "signing" it
Initiating Peek-a-boo
Testing out the "point and grunt" method

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude that she is our "Baby Gwen", as Miles still affectionately calls her. When she was still in my tummy, I could just sense what a sweet spirit Miss Gwendalyn Louise had. And although she is surely gaining some spunk and giving us a little grief (can the "terrible twos" start at one?), she is definitely my sweet girl. We plan on having our Rexburg family over for dinner and cake on Sunday to celebrate. Following is a sequence of my favorite pictures of Gwen from her first year. Scrolling through these pictures is about as fast as it has seemed to go to me. Crazy, crazy. Happy Birthday baby girl!