Height: 30.5 inches (81%ile)
Weight: 24 pounds (94%ile)
Oh my sweet, sweet baby girl I cannot believe that you are already one. I know I've said this a million times throughout the past 12 months, but I cannot get over how fast the time has gone. It has been so amazing watching you grow from an 8 pound tiny infant, to a bubbly, sweet, WALKING toddler. That's right- you're officially walking now! You started taking several steps in a row about a week before your birthday. You're not super fast yet, and you look a little like Frakenstein because you hold your arms straight out, but you definitely walk more often than crawl. It's so cute!
Over the past month your hair has gotten longer and curlier (and even a little blonder). You've also gained two top teeth, bringing the total to 4 teeth (plus a little bit of a molar). I still always hear what a beautiful baby you are and that you look just like a doll or the Gerber baby.
You continue to be an excellent eater. You'll eat just about anything that we put in front of you, except for bananas and avocados. I think I may have fed you too many of them over the past couple of months.
We've also started to introduce whole milk and have started to wean you off of formula. My goal was to make it to a year nursing, but now that we're here I don't think either one of us is ready to be completely done with it. Most of the time you seem to prefer a bottle, but you let me know when you'd rather nurse (by pulling my shirt down). This usually happens first thing in the morning and before bed and sometimes after your afternoon nap. I'm savoring these moments because I feel like we're nearing the end.
As far as sleep goes, you've gotten into a pretty predictable routine. You typically go to bed around 8:30pm and get up around 8:30 or 9am. You like to sleep in like your mama! (I don't think your brother has ever slept past 7am in his life, which is just like daddy). When you wake up, you like to just hang out in your crib for a while babbling and singing. On the weekends, if there's time, I bring you back into bed with me and we snuggle and nurse for at least another half hour. I savor those moments. Thankfully, we've had the luxury of slow mornings this summer. It's going to be a little trickier this fall when we need to get Jax to preschool by 9am four days a week.
We have had all sorts of fun this month. We went to another pizza night at a Two Pony Gardens. The theme was honey bee pizza night. You loved exploring the gardens and watching the animals (especially the chickens and horses).
We also celebrated your last "first" holiday- the Fourth of July! It was a nice hot day and we got to spend it at your great uncle's pool. You aren't a huge fan of being in the water, but you floated around for a little bit...
You seemed much more content lounging by the pool...
Of course the most exciting event of the month was your first birthday party! We celebrated with family and friends the Sunday before your birthday. It was all things pink and gold glitter!! (I had just a little fun planning and decorating!)
The only snafu at your party happened when it was time to sing happy birthday and blow out your candles. Mommy was busy snapping pictures and daddy set your cake in front of you. Jackson was trying to show you how to blow out your candle, but you touched it instead and burned the tip of your pointer finger. You didn't want anyhting to do with your cake after that...
The next day we tried again because I really wanted to do a little cake smash session with you. Well, I think you had a little PTSD because as soon as we set the cake down in front of you, you started screaming and crawled away, knocking the cake over in the process. Poor girl! I hope you're over it by your next birthday!
On your actual birthday we went to Lake Harriet and played at the park, followed by ice cream at Sebastian Joes! You got to try some of mommy's all time favorite ice cream- raspberry chocolate chip! You loved it!
You have brought so much joy to our family over the last year. We all love you so much, sweet girl! Can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you.
Happy first birthday, sweetheart!
Love, Mom
