April 6, 2014 - 8 Weeks

I do not remember being this exhausted or feeling so blah all of the time.  And I don't want to complain, but I am SO tired.  Getting to the end of the work day has been a struggle.  Then I just want to curl up on the couch and go to bed for the night, but I put on a happy face and do my best to be "happy mommy" and read books, do puzzles, and play games.  I know this phase won't last forever and I'll get my energy back soon enough and Zoe probably won't even remember the few weeks where mommy was a blob on the couch without moving.  This growing a human thing is tough business.  Add in taking care of your first human who's now a moving toddler...no joke folks.

But enough of the complaining.

I'm managing to survive, but I feel like I am hungry literally 24/7.  I get done eating, and I need to eat again.  I'm trying to just make healthy choices.  But sometimes that donut at work is staring me in the face.  I had a small case of food poisoning this week.  So not fun when you are starving.  I basically lived on saltine crackers that day. 

The spotting came back again with some clotting.  See, I shouldn't have said anything in my last post.  The nurse didn't seem to be worried at this point.  She said baby is really starting to burrow in and it might continue to happen over the next few weeks.  It made me feel a little better.  Seeing baby today thought with a strong heartbeet in the 170s made me feel MUCH better.  And the spotting is gone again. 

Zoe's "Big Sister" shirt arrived in the mail this week!  That's how we plan to share with our parents.  I can't wait to see how long it takes them to read her shirt and figure it out :)  We bought it on Etsy from Zoey's Attic.  Awesome customer service, super fast processing and delivery, and just great to work with.  I'll definitely be going back in the future.

Things were crazy busy last week with going to Grand Rapids for a birthday party and baby shower.  Zoe will have another cousin this summer!  She and Ida were so cute together and actually interacted this time around.  Zoe was great at sharing her toys which surprised me since everything is "MINE!" most of the time at home.

I definitely feel like I look pregnant already at the end of the workday.  This could prove to be tough keeping it a secret until 13 weeks...No matter what, I won't tell people, but I'm wondering if they'll start speculating.  There are only so many "flowy" shirts I own.  That and the fact that I eat all the time.  Oh well.

Still craving all things salt.  Lots of stuff just doesn't sound good at all.  I'll put something on our weekly menu because it's easy and then when we get to that night, I get queasy just looking at the word on the paper. 

Zoe is finally feeling better, knock on wood.  And of course I think I'm getting a cold.  Hopefully I don't give it to her since all colds seem to turn into sinus infections with her.  She's back to her regular old eating self.  She put down THREE pancakes and eggs the other night.  More than either Aaron or me.  I finally had to hide them because she kept pointing to them and saying "more."

All in all, I'm hanging in there.  The weeks seem to be going pretty fast this time around!

My next appointment is in 4 weeks!  Then we can finally tell everyone since that's right around 13 weeks.  Perfect timing!

March 30, 2014 - 7 Weeks

Wrote March 30, 2014

I'll be a little less formal this time around (hopefully this isn't the beginnings of our second born always getting "less").

I'm generally feeling "ok."  I looked back at my posts while pregnant with Zoe around this time, and I'm generally feeling the same.  The exhaustion has kicked in.  I'm trying to go to bed early (like 9).  This time around though, I have a toddler who sometimes has a different agenda in the middle of the night.  Add in the fact that she had a sinus infection that we let go way too far, and it's been a long week.  She's now just waking up and crying.  Which I don't know if she's gotten used to us running in the past week (we were trying to save her from coughing to the point of gagging) or if she's just going through one of her weird weeks again.  But I'd love a full night's sleep with no interruptions right about now.

I'm also absolutely starving all day.  I eat, and it seems like I'm starving just 10 minutes later.  cue everyone at work figuring out I'm pregnant before I actually announce it.  Again, I'm trying to make healthy choices by eating fruit and veggies and healthy crackers.  Interestingly, I'm craving salty food much more this time around as of now.  It'll be interesting to see if the different cravings mean different gender.

I don't have any real worries anymore now that we've seen the baby in the right place.  My main worries right now are all about what will happen when this baby is here - how will Zoe do, how will I take care of TWO little ones, how will work nights go now with two little ones.  But we'll figure it out just like we did the first time around.

I'm kind of excited to find out the gender this time around.  Although, I don't think it can top doing all that work and then hearing your baby cry, finding out the gender, and getting to hold that squishy person.  But Aaron was nice enough to let me have my way last time, that I figure I can try it his way this time :)

So far the main differences between this baby and Zoe, seem to be the type of food I'm craving as mentioned above and the lack of worry (or lack of time to worry).

I cannot wait to be able to tell people!  And now that this blog is public, I won't be able to post any of these updates until we start to tell everyone which is almost 6 weeks away.  That seems so far from now.  I told my sister already since I wanted to make sure that she was ok with the wedding dress.  She swore to secrecy.  We are telling family (and of course my BFF) around Easter...only 3 weeks.  Then we'll probably start to tell the rest of the world around 13 or 14 weeks when I'm out of the first trimester.  I hope this part goes by quickly.  I don't like keeping secrets.

Crazy Fast

Written March 29, 2014

All of the blood results have been great so far.  I had spotting for about a week and that's gone now too - which I probably should not have mentioned because now it will come back.  Our two ultra sounds we have had so far show the baby growing right on track (and in the right spot).  The tech even saw the heartbeat yesterday (the baby is too small right now for her to get a read to be able to let us hear it).

We go back in two weeks for our first "official" OB appointment and ultra sound where we should see a much bigger baby and a more official due date.

I am so so relieved. 

It's crazy how much less time I have to think about everything this time around.  With Zoe, I was CONSTANTLY worried even though we had weekly appointments.  This time I'm so busy thinking about work and spending as much quality time with Zoe before she goes to bed and then I'm exhausted so I go to bed around 9 that I just have no time to worry (which is nice for this worrier).

But I am excited.  So so so excited.  We are so blessed to get to experience this all over again.  I can't wait to start planning Zoe's new room.  Aaron (and supposably Zoe wants to know too) is winning out this time around and we are finding out the gender, so we'll do a few minor changes to the nursery just so this baby gets his/her own things.  And hopefully the only really new things we'll have to buy are strollers that can now fit two little ones.  Although those babies are not cheap.  I thought our single stroller was a lot! 

Mother's Day

It's so hard to believe that my second Mother's Day is already here.  Last year was a bit of a whirlwind with a weekend full of parties and a little girl with her first cold.  After having an 6 month who had slept through the night for a while, staying up all night with a poor little girl who couldn't breathe was rough.  I wasn't seasoned anymore.

I've said it a million times, but being a mom is truly such a tough job.  But it's so much more rewarding then any performance review or bonus at work. 

Hearing Zoe talk to her animals and baby over the monitor in the morning...

Walking into her room and seeing that HUGE smile just for me and her popping up with her arms outstretched....

Finally getting kisses when we ask (even if they are open mouthed and slobbery)...

Putting her to bed at night and having her say "night night" and wave bye bye through her crib slats well after the door is shut...

She's amazing.  I had no idea what to expect when I was pregnant.  And things are definitely different since having her.  But wow, they've changed for the better.  I never imagined the sheer magnitude of love I'd feel instantaneously.  And somehow, it keeps growing and growing which I never thought possible.

I'm so thankful for this little girl who made me a momma.  Even when she tries my patience, I wouldn't trade her for anything :) :)

Ramblings

Written March 28, 2014

I took a test on a whim.  After all of my usual spotting, I thought for sure it would be negative and we'd go on with life.  But I guess deep down I knew that it just might be positive.  I've just felt...off.  The cheapo test I bought a while ago for when we'd actually be trying this summer was positive.  And of course I was out of the good ones so I had to make a run to the pharmacy.  Which is exactly what happened when I found out we were pregnant with Zoe :)  And then I try to force myself to go to the bathroom again to test.  That expensive test?  Positive too.  Ready or not....here we go again!

I have so many emotions swirling around in my brain.  I hate that our experience in 2011 has tainted my excitement.  I hate that I have to wait for blood results and ultrasounds to make sure everything is ok before I can really embrace this baby.

But I knew that once I got the ok from the doctor, the excitement would bubble over.  This was definitely not in our plan (at least not for a few more months), but obviously God had something different in store for us :)

Thankfully, my sister was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and could care less about the bridesmaid dress and was just down right excited for us (and happy that she now has an excuse to come home for Christmas this year :) ).  Davids Bridal is exchanging the dress at no cost so we are good to go.  Thank you stars for aligning!   

But how will Zoe take this?  Right now, the wheel of fortune as my doctor calls it puts my due date at November 16ish.  Which means Zoe will be JUST over 2 years old.  Right now, everything is all about "MINE!" and she gets very, very jealous if I even attempt to hold another child (as in I have to try to hold the other child PLUS her).  But how fun is going to be for them to grow up close in age?  They will LOVE LOVE each other.  I just know it.

And of course I have a million and one other worries surrrounding some of the hiccups I had the first time around.  

BUT...there is a tiny, squishy, newborn smelling baby in our future.  I get to snuggle that stinker tight and this time, I know exactly how fast it goes.  So I'll be sure to hold on extra tight.  Because before we know it, this baby who's just a twinkle in my eye right now will soon enough be a crazy, loveable toddler.

Zoe Louise | 18 Months

I knew it would happen.  This "baby" of mine if becoming a tiny human right in front of my eyes and it's all happening way too fast for my liking.  It seems like every day she does something new and cute and exciting.  I just want to bottle it all up so that I don't forget one second.

Helping daddy install the door nob.

We had her 18 month appointment and it was a NIGHTMARE.  She screamed anytime the nurse or Dr. Butry came near her.  Dr. Butry said that's perfectly normal for her age, but I hate listening to her screams :(  Supposably this is also the time she's going to become a super picky eater which I'm not supposed to worry about…she hasn't slowed down yet so we'll see :)

Stats:
27 lb 11 oz (95th percentile)
19 in head circumference (94th percentile)
32.5 in long (76th percentile)

She's really starting to be able to say more "words" and I love that we actually kind of get what she means now.  Even though she says cracker 5 million times before dinner and OMG child you need to eat real food ;)

She loves loves belly buttons.  And will try to lift our shirts at the most inappropriate times to poke them.  Thankfully she hasn't done this to random people...that I know of.  And when she sucks in her belly to find hers, I die of cuteness overload.

Cheese face!

She can now mimic ever single thing in her Eric Carle, "I Can Do It" book.  Cutest.thing.ever watching her bend her neck like a giraffe, thump her chest like a gorilla, waving her hands like a monkey, etc. etc.

She loves to help us put her lotion on in the morning and before bed.  She pretends to take the bottle, put some on her hand, and rub it into her legs.  Thankfully she hasn't figured out how to actually pump the bottle....yet.

She loves to wake up and get all of her animals out of the crib with her in the morning and squeeze them.  Then we say night night to them when we are done getting dressed and she puts them all back into the crib.  Those poor animals sleep for 23 hours and 45 minutes out of every day.

Taking my baby shopping.

We sing to her and rock her every night after we read stories and turn out the light.  She loves to snuggle and then pop up her head in the dark and start clapping.  I have a terrible voice but apparently Zoe thinks its awesome.

She gives the best iPad kisses to her Beeba and Nana every weekend.  She's a little stingy giving us hugs and kisses but she finally can blow kisses and loves to do that.

She can throw a mean tantrum when she doesn't get her way sometimes.  We're working on it. 

Playing with bubbles when it's too cold outside.  She was down to her diaper by the end.

She loves to help us throw anything away.  And will grab it from us when we ask and say, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah" all excited.  Hopefully her love of cleaning up continues.

She still loves to read.  Most nights after dinner, that's literally all we do until bath time or bedtime.

Her favorite hiding spot is in the small entryway.  She's not very good at waiting there for us to come "find" her but thinks it's hilarious when we walk around saying "where's Zoe" and then act all surprised when we see her and grab her.

So much fun at the park!

"MINE!" has become a favorite word lately.  Unfortunately, it's like nails on a chalk board for me.  I'm try to work on subtly correcting her.  I know it's just her age and it will eventually go away.  But I wish she'd just understand that not everything is hers.  

Her numero uno favorite word at the moment, "OU-SIE!!"  aka outside.  You can tell that poor child has been cooped up for too many months during the horrible winter of 2013/2014.  Because she literally wants to be outside 100% of the time.  She loves it!  And she doesn't even care what she's doing.  She'll walk around and point to things, sit at her picnic table, pull her wagon, kick her soccer ball, and we barely even need to entertain her.  I love that she's finally starting to play independently a little bit.  Now if only she could work on the total meltdowns while I'm making dinner (I know these are common though for ALL kids so I realize it's here to stay for a while).  

She's also started to hum and sing her own little songs.  So freakin cute.  Also related to music, this girl loves to get down and shake her bootie.  We usually have a couple of dance parties per week after dinner.  

Just cooking some dinner.

I could go on and on because as her mom obviously every little thing is the absolute cutest in the world.  She's just the cutest and I'll leave it at that ;)

Winter...So over it...

I don't mind the cold.  I don't hate snow.  For the most part.  I've lived in MI my whole life, so I know this is just part of the deal.  The spring and fall are magical and the summer is amazing.  And the beaches and quaint little towns.  And up north.  You can't beat it and it's like no where else. 

But THIS winter.  I'm done.  I know that it hasn't even been that bad for us here on the east side of the state.  I think our parents have gotten something like 80 inches.  My dad now has to shovel the snow piles on the sides of his driveway to make room for the new snow he's shoveling.  We definitely have more snow over here than most people in Detroit are used to. 

And the COLD.  Zoe's finally old enough and can move on her own that it would be fun to go play outside for a little while (ok 15 minutes).  But I can't take her out when it's minus 20 wind chill.  Can we just get some upper 20s?

I looked at the extended forecast and there is some relief in site.  High 30s!  Mid 40s!  Break out the short sleeves :)  Hopefully only a month of the REALLY crappy stuff left…

I mean, how can you resist this cutie in her snow clothes???  And the squeals of "weee" as Beeba pulls her along Wally's "poop trail."  (I promise he went to the bathroom at the END of the trail and Zoe went no where near it.)

And Beeba even enjoyed playtime with Wally.  Wally definitely enjoyed it as you can see by him knocking her over in the two feet of snow.  For the record, I did yell outside to see if she needed my help and she promised she was ok in between her tears of laughter.

Our Little Diva

I knew it would happen eventually.  There was no way we'd escape the whiny-ness or the "diva" moments.  After all, we have a girl and she's my daughter ;)  But Zoe has become very opinionated recently.  She squawks often, she screams when she doesn't get her way, she's even started to throw herself on the ground sometimes.  And I'm so not ready for this.  I don't have a book for this stage!  (That's for you mom.)

It's all so new that it's often quite funny, and I have to work hard to hide my laughter.  Zoe can really understand a lot, so I try my best to explain why she can't have something or redirect her to stop the tantrum.  My guess is that a lot of these "moments" happen because she's frustrated that we don't understand her.  She can say a few words now, but most aren't very helpful to understand what she wants.  I know this must be an extremely hard time for her - she can understand us but we can't understand her.  I can't wait until she can say more words to get her point across.

I've noticed that it's the worst on weeknights when I'm home by myself trying to get her dinner ready.  She's cranky from a long day at school.  It's extremely close to "I'm starving mom!" time.  She just wants to be held but it's rather difficult to make dinner for her and hold her at the same time.  So I spend most of my weeknights trying to give her activities that will keep her busy for the 15 excruciatingly long minutes it takes me to get her dinner ready.  Unless it's something new and exciting (like giving her a can of soup to play with - I know, thrilling), she usually ends up sobbing at my feet with her arms outstretched and I feel like the worse.mom.ever.  She gets an afternoon snack at school so I try to tell myself she can't be dying of starvation.  I just feel horrible seeing those big tears come out of her eyes.  Not to mention, she's clumsier the more worked up she gets so she usually trips over her feet or bonks her head on the cupboard or something.  I've tried giving her something small to eat while I whip her dinner together, but then she's not hungry for dinner and getting good food rather than a snack is important. 

Then there's her milk or maaaa as she calls it.  All bets are off once she sees that sippy cup.  I've started hiding it from her until she eats real food first.  This girl will chug her entire cup before touching her food.  If we take it away, her life is over and she sobs hysterically.  There is no reasoning even though she knows we'll give it back after a few more bites.  Thankfully, she understands that once it's gone, she can have water but mo more "maa."

I guess we'll just go with it and hope that as the roads get better, Aaron will be able to get home sooner to help provide some relief. 

But thankfully she's all smiles once her belly is full.

Zoe Louise | 15 Months

Now that we've passed one year, these will be much less formal.  I'd like to still recap ever three months or so to remember milestones and when things happened.  It's been a BIG three months.

She weighs 26 lbs 3 oz (95th percentile - she's finally leveled off), 30.75 inches tall (69th percentile) and 18.5 head circumference (85th percentile - her head didn't grow at all from last time).

Zoe is now officially walking 100%.  She really took off a few weeks after her first birthday and hasn't looked back.  She'll crawl randomly here and there when she's playing hide and seek with Aaron (she can't really run yet, so I think she's trying to get away fast).

She still LOVES to read.  I have every book memorized.  Thankfully, she got a few new ones at Christmas to add to the rotation.  Baths were becoming a bawling fest again so we decided to try out the big girl tub and she is back to creating tidal waves.  Maybe she was just too cramped in the baby tub and wanted freedom.

It amazes me how much she understands.  She can only say a handful of words, but she really seems to understand a ton of what we say.  She'll get her shoes (or any ones) when we ask her.  She lays her head down when we tell her too.  She can point to her belly, her ears, her nose and her feet.  She brings books when we tell her to pick out a new story (and we can even tell her the exact book).  Etc., etc., etc.  It's crazy.  So far she can say, Momma, Dadda, baby, shoe, please (on occasion), dog, oh no!, no no, yes, all (for all done), mine, night night, and bye.

She's always looking for who's "in" the iPad when we iChat with family.  She's constantly walking around it or pulling it down thinking that the person is going to be right there.  Nope, unfortunately not.  I think it's super cute, but I'm sure it's just a very strange concept for her.

She's moved to the Young Toddler room at daycare.  It was so bittersweet seeing her leave the infant room.  She really came to love those teachers.  So much so that she'd jump out of our arms as soon as she saw Miss Penny.  She seems to be doing really well though with the other YT kids and teachers.  She's been a little sad for drop off on occasion but usually brightens right up.  She even naps well on the cots.  She's only taking one nap at daycare and very recently just one nap at home too.  Her daycare naps are SO MUCH better now, but her nap at home hasn't really extended much now that she's down to just one.  But she does sleep in most weekends until 8 am so maybe that's a factor (I'll take the extra hour in the morning...I don't nap).

Sleep is still great for the most part.  Naps are better at daycare (FINALLY).  Napping is pretty great at home with now just one, 2 hourish nap.  She still goes down at 7:30 or 8 and is up at 7 on school days and 8 on weekends.  She's had a few rough nights though where she wakes up screaming multiple times.  She'll usually go back to sleep on her own but it's making Aaron and I insanely exhausted.  It usually has coincided with colds or teeth.

We still have a vegetarian on our hands for the most part.  Ham seems to be a winner sometimes and she'll eat chicken every once in a while.  It's getting tricky to get iron into her diet!  She downs her Greek yogurt so thankfully protein isn't an issue.

Getting rid of bottles was a snap!  We cut out the morning one pretty quickly.  The night time one was becoming an issue because she was so upset when she was done after only three oz.  I knew she wasn't hungry and just wanted to suck.  So I finally said one night enough was enough and we cut cold turkey and she did amazing!

She's still in mostly 18 months clothes.  Some times are getting tight though so my mom and I stocked up on some 24 months clothes from Once Upon a Child.  She wears size 4 diapers during the day and 5 at night.

She has her 4 front top teeth, 3 bottom front, and her 15 month molars (all 4).  We went to her 15 month checkup and Dr. Butry was checking out her mouth and said something about molars.  I was like, "Wait? Did you say she has her molars?"  I had NO idea!  They aren't all the way through yet but all 4 have poked through.  I feel horrible that I didn't know!

Minus the meltdowns that occur at night while I'm trying to make her dinner solo, I love love love this age.  She is so much fun and so darn cute.  I wish I could bottle up everything she says, all of the funny things she's doing, and her crazy giggles and screams so I don't forget one second of what she's doing and what she's like at this stage.  I do miss the newborn snuggles, but I love the kisses (even if they are open mouthed) and hugs I finally get back :)

Holiday Recap

Yes, we are still alive over here.  It's been a crazy two months since her birthday!

We had a low key Halloween.  We decided to go DIY this year, and Zoe was a jazzercise baby.  I thought she looked pretty freakin' cute if you ask me.  Those thighs and that belly.  Too much.  The weather was horrible, so we didn't go out (I figure she's only one - she could care less), but thankfully she got to celebrate at school.

Before Thanksgiving, we headed to Bay City to visit my college roommate and her little girl.  Zoe was only a few months old the last time, so it was fun to see the girls interact more and play together.  Zoe was very interested in Grace's socks and was a good sport when Zoe decided to start taking them off.

Then came Thanksgiving.  We went to my in-laws early this year since we'd be heading back to Detroit a little early.  It was so nice to have a few extra days off.  The house was packed with almost the whole family (the Seattle siblings didn't make it home), but I know my mother-in-law wouldn't have it any other way :)  It was so so much fun to see everyone.  And thank you to all of Zoe's aunties and uncies who read her Barnyard Dance a million times.  Saturday we started a new tradition of having my brother and his husband over for for dinner with my parents (his family is from OH so getting to GR would be quite the drive).  It was great seeing them too.  They live in CA and we don't see them nearly enough.  I miss my little brother.

Since Thanksgiving was so late this year, that gave us just a few short weeks until Christmas to pack in shopping and getting ready to travel back to GR.  My mom and I had out annual Christmas adventure.  This year we chose Frankenmouth.  It was FREEZING, but we had lots of fun.  Sadly, my grandpa passed away so Zoe and I made an unexpected trip back for the funeral.  She got to see Aunt Jodi and Uncle Andrew since they flew in as well.  The following weekend Nana came to babysit while we finished up our shopping and went to a friend's Christmas party.  Nana even braved making cookies with Zoe...they tasted delicious!

Uncle Andrew and Uncle Nick flew in the week before Christmas and we all headed home minus Aaron and Wally (he had to work on the 23rd).  The days were filled with Christmas parties, baby showers, family outings, etc.  It was crazy busy but so much fun to see everyone. 

I always hate the letdown after the holidays.  We are left with freezing temperatures and not a whole lot of excitement in the near future :(  I did book my trip to Cali though to visit my BFF and her little bundle come May (and Jon of course!)...OC reunion here we come!  Is it May yet??

Zoe Louise | 12 Months

This post is so bitter sweet.  You've become so much more active and fun as each month passes, but I can't help but feel a little sad thinking we are moving further and further from the baby months.  It's so hard to believe how little you were one year ago.  And how heavy you seemed when we had to walk around and bounce you for hours every night before we made it to your 11-11:30pm bedtime.  We have come so far.  You are SO much bigger and your bedtime is now right where we wanted it at 7:30pm.  But those aren't even the best parts.  You make every day amazing Zoe.  You make waking up so easy, coming home from work the best, and your cheesy smile is the highlight of my day.  You are my heart baby girl.  

Stats:   24 lb 7 oz (95th percentile), 29.5 inches long (65th percentile), and head is 18.5 in (92nd percentile).  I don't want to see those thighs go!  And cutest thing ever.  I'll ask you where your belly button is while we are getting dressed and you'll suck in her stomach to find it (because your belly is too big to see it when it's relaxed).  Seriously, how can you not love chubby babies???  Dr. Butry said you should start to slim down now that you're weening off of the bottle and eating mostly table food.  And you're walking now too!

Likes: Bugging Wally although you are starting to get a little more gentle.  Wally's toys especially Moo Cow.  Hopefully soon you'll realize his toys don't belong in YOUR mouth.  Bath time and being a rebel and standing in the bath.  SPLASHING!  Walks.  Playing chase around the house.  Dancing.  Pretend falling.  Reading books.  FLYING with daddy.  Opening and closing doors.  Throwing all of the DVDs on the floor and looking through them intently.  Using all of your toys as walkers - even your activity table.

Dislikes: Getting ready for bed (I am so ready for this to be over).  It only happens here.  You are fine when we are out of town so part of me wonders if you just know that here your bottle is coming, but when we change it up and you aren't at home, you just don't know when that bottle will come.  Getting rid of these last two bottles is going to be terrible I think. Having your nose wiped. Having your diaper changed.  Leaving Wally outside when we get home from daycare during the week.  Having mommy or daddy put you down while we make dinner.

Biggest Achievement This Month:  Taking your first steps!  You do pretty well now.  You are walking like a zombie though to keep your balance :)  So cute.  When we were out shopping and daddy was taking forever, I had to get you out of the stroller to keep you occupied and you wanted nothing to do with being held.  You preferred to walk all around the men's department.  And you didn't care where you were going or who was in your way.  Does that mean I lost the bet and owe Grandpa Corner Bar?

Biggest Challenge of the Month: Sleeping at day care.  Of course!

Secret Tricks: Redirecting you when you are upset with toys or Wally.  Walks outside.  I have no idea what we'll do when it's cold.  Flying you through the house.  This is what daddy does when you are whining while I make dinner.  I don't think you are actually super hungry but more so over tired since it always happens on weekdays.

Sleep: You still take your last bottle at 7:30pm and are down by 8pm. You are then down for the night until about 7am. The weekend we were home for Nana's birthday, you slept until 8am both days.  I didn't know what to do with myself!  Your naps at daycare are about 40 minutes in length. At home, you nap much better and they last almost 2 hours still. You still nap on the way home from daycare if your naps during the day weren't good.  I usually let you sleep in the car (with the windows down) for a little bit when we get home.  

Temperament/Personality:  You are starting to be able to play independently a little longer now.  I can leave you in your crib or in your room with books and you'll sit pretty well for quite sometime just reading to yourself (you'll make Nana proud!).  Weeknights right before dinner are hard on you when we are trying to get dinner around.  But then you light right up again once you are done.  

You've started doing the cutest things at dinner and it's so hard not to laugh.  First, you pick up certain pieces of food (and I can't figure out why they are chosen) and put them from your tray back on the table.  Sometimes you'll eat them if I put them back on your tray.  And you don't do it with a lot of food, just a few select pieces.  Then, when you are finished, you start smearing the remaining food all over your tray.  This means that quite a bit ends up on the floor for Wally.  We are trying to teach you not to do this.  But you just think it's even more funny when we gently but firmly tell you no and stop you.  I literally have to get up sometimes so that I don't laugh in front of you.  Thank goodness for wood floors and a dog who is a vacuum swifter.

You still do really well eating out (knock on wood).  We've gotten pretty good at knowing when you are having an "off" day and it's just not worth the fight.  But you are great most weekends and get everyone around you smiling and chatting with you.

Having us help you walk is now your preferred mode of travel.  You've gotten really good and turning your arms to guide us where you want to go.  And you hold on to our fingers for dear life.  Mine usually turn purple if we go for a long walk.

Eating:  You are down to 2 bottles now.  You have one 6 oz. bottle when you wake up and one when you go to bed.  Then you have two sippy's with milk in them.  For now, I've been trying to keep track of your milk intake since I'm not sure you are eating enough solids, but you are getting better and better so I don't think I'll have to worry much longer.  

You are exclusively on milk now.  We transitioned at the start of this month (4 oz formula, 2 oz milk then 2 oz. formula, 4 oz. milk).  You did really well with no issues.  It's so nice to just pour the milk into a bottle/cup rather than worrying about mixing and shaking.  

Your solids are getting better and better.  Your list of likes is getting longer.  I basically have a rotation you eat over and over.  I make sure to give you a taste of everything but stick with what works to make sure you eat.

Foods you love: bananas, peaches, pancakes, egg yokes, nutri grain bars, veggie straws, gold fish, yogurt, quesadillas, ravioli, pasta, Beeba's mac and cheese, bagels and sweet potato wedges.  You tolerate pears and sandwiches with cream cheese and jelly.

Randoms: All 12 and 18 month clothes.  The size 12's just fit now.  You are in all size 4 diapers (day and night).   

Milestones:  You can walk with your toys. You've taken a few steps on your own.  You have 6 teeth.  You can walk!!!

You are talking more and more.  You FINALLY say "Momma".  But it sounds like you say "no" but it's clear you have no idea what it means since you say it when you mean yes and no.  You can say "yeah" again not the right context all the time.  But your sounds are exploding.  I do think you can say dog though and actually mean it.  Who would have thought?

Happy one year little girl.  You've truly made the last year the best year.  I can't wait to see what year two has in store.  Love you!