What a glorious day of celebrating… or weekend for that matter!  The festivities began with a small gathering of friends and a whole lot of mama-made cupcakes, and continued with a family celebration in our home, full of “happy birthday” singing and present-opening.  Family came from far and near – very literally – and our hearts about busted open as we watched sweet friends and family pour love onto our baby girl.  Our baby girl.  Born one year ago.  ONE.  People kept telling me it would go by quickly, and once the big day approached they would state “didn’t that go by fast?”  In some ways surely the year passed swiftly, every inch and ounce, every toe wiggle and first smile to babbling letters and giddy steps, very blatantly marking that each moment only lasts for a heartbeat until the next milestone takes the lead.  Surely watching a little one grow reminds you that days and hours and minutes are more than precious, but they are fleeting.  Although still, did it go by quickly?  Actually, no.  It went by perfectly.  Our sweet little love is perfectly one, and only by the grace given me was I able to hold her at every occasion, come to her whenever she called, and watch her at each passage.  Somehow becoming a mama was surrounded by more rest than I have experienced in some time.  I believe that to be so because I learned how to simply live in daily contentment.  I love to dream, but the future was not of greater significance than the present.  I love to pursue, but the pursuit stayed within my arms.  I watched – every day I watched – my little girl make her way towards one, and it was beautiful.