56.

Today I am grateful for Gwen.

Gwen is an exuberant soul. When Gwen is smiling, her whole body smiles, and everyone else smiles too. I love the makings of her little person. She draws me right in. She is a little bit of everything. Dainty, rough and tumble, quiet, outgoing, with a mind of her own, yet always eager to do what is right, kind and loving. One Gwen quirk is that she loves everything teeny tiny. She always has an inventory of her special collections, even if it is a paperclip. She will ask something like, "Mommy can I go get my paperclip? It is next to the sink in the bathroom under the towel." Every morning, she is holding exactly the same collection that she had before she went to bed. She also loves to organize things. I often find objects perfectly lined up in a row on the floor, under the cabinet, along the window sill. I always know it was her. Gwen also LOVES to be a helper, I often find her at my heels wanting to know how she can help me. And I have had many people tell me what a good friend she is. One of my favorite memories of Gwen is around 2, she would always come up to me, put her chubby little hand by my ear to move my hair away, and in a soft, airy voice, say, "Mommy, you sooo make me happy." and then back away with a little closed mouth Gwen smile. I love having her around. I always ask her, "Gwen, do you know what makes me happy?" She backs away, gives me that same closed mouth, smiley eyed, Gwen smile and points to herself over and over while she whispers, "me." with a giggle.

57. I am grateful that my favorite thing to do is be on a date with BR. We had a perfect night last night, even though my plan and my backup plan fell through. I always come home happy and rejuvinated.

58. I am grateful for my sweet kids. Just now:

Gwen: Aahh, I know Liv, we can write about how much we love our mom!!

Liv: I already know lots that we can write!