ONE

I still cannot believe a whole year has passed.

Her birthday celebration on Monday was similar to the celebration of her birth.  There were so many things going on that it was just at the end of it all.  The oldest three were born in the morning.  We knew (or at least thought) they were coming the night before, so we had a lot of time mentally prepping for their arrival.  With my ignoring of the contractions with Nellie, I have always felt her birth seemed like an afterthought for the day.  Busy, busy, busy, oh yeah and a baby too.  Monday, we had things to do during the day and a meeting right after dinner (the second Daddy walked in).  After the meeting, we quickly sang Happy Birthday with a cookie cake and were off to bed.  She had her first chocolate chip cookie an LOVED it. We will have Nellie's party in July where she will have a smash cake we will do it up for her a little more.

We go to the doctor on Friday for her official stats, but she is about 23 pounds. She is still quite chubby, but compared to where she was around 2-3 months she has trimmed out quite a bit.  No one believes me that her legs are thinner, but the extra roll in her thigh is now in two smaller, more defined rolls instead of just one huge one.  Her eyes have changed from  blue to a combination of blue and green more like mine, Caleb's and Lucy's.  Her hair is not long, but is getting thicker.  The thicker it becomes the more red it looks, just like Toby. She is not officially walking yet, but can take three steps.  She can stand very sturdily for however long she wants, but she was more adventurous in taking steps six weeks ago.  Her sturdiness makes me think when she finally gives into walking she will be able to do it well.

I am afraid to write this in case of a jinx, but she always has been a good sleeper.  She goes to bed at 7 but had been waking up at 5:30 to eat, but has finally decided she can sleep until 6 or 7.  She has 8 teeth and loves her food.  If I don't cut up her food before putting it on her tray, she swats my hand away to get at it.

She loves her siblings and is always trying to be a part of their games.  She and Toby have a similar bond as Caleb and Lucy have.  She lights up when she sees him.  He lets her give him drooly kisses and hit him on the head when she hugs him.

She loves to go for walks and practically leaps into the stroller when are getting ready to go.  She loves the swings and slides at the park and on our swing set.  Her favorite outside toy is the cozy coupe.  If she sees it, she does not stop squealing until she gets a ride.  She even lifts her feet up so people can push her around without her getting stuck. 

We have a pool pass this summer and she loves the water.  As long as she has a toy to hold and is in the water at least to her waist she is happy.  She does "baby laps" in the baby pool.  It is a zero depth circle and she will crawl around the entire circumference (at about 1 in deep). She scrapes her knees and feet doing this but gets angry if I try to stop her.  She loves the fountains too.  She tries to grab the water and will crawl right through them too. (I don't have any pictures of her IN the pool yet)

We are so lucky to have you in our family.  Thanks for being born. 


We have always taken a picture of each baby with Daddy's dress shoe when the come home from the hospital and again when they turn one.