12 Months

So quickly we are here, we have a 12 month old, a 1 year old baby toddler that a year ago stormed into our lives and changed everything once again for the good.  I have to say we are pretty pleased with “just how happy” our little girl is.  She is pleasant from the moment she wakes up, rolls with whatever we throw at her, and is just happy as can be.  Not only is she happy, she is also smitten with herself and her happiness.   It also means that the times she is unhappy or sad are the worst as we semi panic.

She has made some big strides this month and is walking all over the place.  She has finally figured out that walking will get her where she wants to go faster and is not crawling anymore.  She still needs a clear path as looking down doesn’t happen, but she can maneuver around obstacles and turn which is making the walking world a whole new adventure.  She is also a climby little monkey.  She wants to climb everything and will happily find herself in some awkward places and positions.   In the fine motor area she loves to pick up and put things in, on, on top and under.   She will patiently sit and figure out toys, like stacking cups, and putting her coins into a pig.  She loves to pick up things and is starting to color and write.  She also loves trying to dress herself and pretends to put on all her clothes knowing socks and shoes go on her feet and shirts go over her head. 

Her favorite toys are her beaded necklaces, her stroller, her big girl shoes, and of course her brother.  She walks around pushing her stroller picking up and putting things in as she goes, she has had a wide range of things from her toothbrush to a flip flop.   She loves puppies and birds and will happily point them out whenever she sees them, in fact this can make her quite upset if she can’t go and chase after them. 

I forgot how much I love this 12 month old personality as you start to see this baby develop into their own person.  Up until now there has been a steady progression of “I bet she will be like this or that” but now she is really showing us the little girl she is.  She in fact might give us a run for our money with her determination and spirit.  She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to scream loudly or crocodile tear pout to get it! 

She is a little chatter box and dang that girl has a set of lungs!  She is babbling up a storm and is convinced she is telling us long stories.  She has many words now and will try to repeat a lot of what we ask her to, she has 12-15 consistent words.  She is understanding more and more and it is really amazing to watch what she knows and how she learns so quickly. 

Elin loves to eat and has a wide variety of foods that she likes.  She is eating  table foods with us now and we are just cutting or shredding everything.  She has also really started to want to be independent and prefers to feed herself rather than have us feed her.  We got a few peaches on her birthday and she went to town eating them, every time we walked by the fruit basket she pointed and requested more.  She is drinking out of a straw cup and sippy cup and will also take drinks out of an open cup.  Her spoon/fork skills are still a messy adventure.

She still has just 8 teeth although her gums are swollen and she is looking/acting like she is cutting all 4 of her 1st molars right now.  She is still waking to eat a few times a night but sleeping from 8 or 8:30 to between 6:30 and 7:30, give or take.  Most days she takes 2 naps for about 3-4 hours total, sometimes she skips her morning nap if we are out and about and she is too excited about what is going on, but will then take a longer afternoon nap.   At her doctor appointment her doctor was pleased with all her developmental milestones, saying if all continues to go well and I have no concerns she can see us back at 18 months instead of the 15 month appointment.  She weighted 20 lbs  (50%tile) and was 29 inches long (50%tile). 

I am still wrapping my head around the fact that our little girl has been with our family for a whole year, 365 days, several colds, 2 a.m. wake ups, thousands of smiles, more giggles and more memories that one could ever hope for.  My life is more fulfilled since she entered the world, our family is more complete.  This little lady has been a wonderful addition to the world.  We love you little lady more than you will ever know.