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!