Wow. I’m going to have to start typing this post early, because there is so much I want to cover. My little girl, my baby, is one. And becoming a toddler more and more each day. How did that happen? How did the time fly by so fast?
Flash back a year ago - Amelia wasn’t due until August 11th, but due to a pre-cautionary ultrasound, the doctors said she was fully baked and needed to come a little early. So we checked in the the hospital on July 23rd, mid-afternoon. It was a long 28 hours, but 8:15 p.m. on July 24th, our little bundle was delivered by c-section - she celebrated by peeing on the nurse I believe. Haha. She was a precious tiny little thing, only 6 lbs 4 oz, and 18 1/2 inches. Not quite the larger baby I was prepared for, she seemed so tiny and delicate.
Flash forward to now - she isn’t tiny and delicate! She loves to eat, and is very solid on her legs. We’ll find out for sure next week at her 1 year appointment, but she’s at least 23 lbs and probably 29 inches. She has the cutest squeezable cheeks and thighs, they are just adorable.
Her daily schedule right now is still in flux - we are trying to prepare her for her toddler room at daycare by getting her down to one nap a day, after lunch. However, she generally still takes a short cat nap in the mornings when she is home with us. The mid-day nap will last 2 - 3 hours if its nice & quiet, daycare its more like 1 - 1 1/2 hours. She wakes with a formula bottle (soon to be milk), snacks on some cheerios, then eats breakfast at daycare mid-morning. Some of her favorites are waffles and blueberry muffins and she always eats her fruit. Lunch is fast becoming a favorite of hers too - she often eats not only her plate but tries to take from others as well, along with her milk. Yesterday she had turkey meatballs and pasta - last week she even ate sloppy joe! She also loves veggies she can feed herself - like peas, carrots, corn and even green beans. I can’t believe she is this advanced at eating, it amazes me. I remember writing on here that I thought she’d be on purees until she was 3. She snacks in the afternoon on crackers and maybe applesauce, as well as more milk. And then I pick her up from school, and we eat an early dinner together most nights. We are trying to do as much organic, hormone-free as possible, but some nights its chicken nuggets & mixed veggies and last night she had some oatmeal. We’re flexible. She ends the night with a formula bottle and sleeps from about 7:30 - 6:30 most nights. She loves her pacifier and that is a major part of her sleeping right now - we aren’t sure when we will fight that battle - for now we put 3 - 4 in her crib and that usually gets her through the night. Occasionally we have to help her find one, or pat her back, but luckily that’s rare unless she is teething. Its a pretty straightforward schedule, but it seems to be in flux. I’ve tried to get her to eat ‘breakfast’ of yogurt or oatmeal before daycare and so far that has been refused - she’ll do cheerios but no real food. We’ll keep trying!
Her vocabulary seems to be expanding much faster now. She babbled dada awhile ago, and mama after that - but she truly started to use words appropriately starting in June. She reached for me and said ‘mama’ - she knows when its ‘dada’ on the phone. She says ‘yeah’ when clapping, and she can both sign and say ‘all done’ - doesn’t always mean she is done - I think it means she is done with what’s there, maybe not that she’s full - she can always eat more cheerios, haha. She’s recently learned when she drops or throws something to say ‘uh oh’. Its pretty funny. We also think she said ‘dog’ about my parent’s dog over 4th of July and over this past weekend we heard her say ‘baby’ a few times - not sure she knows the meaning of that one, but it was fun regardless. She often has babbling conversations with us, and is quite verbal. Other sign language she seems to know - ‘eat/food’ and I think she is close to ‘more’. She used to do milk but that one has disappeared, maybe because its so similar to waving.
We’ve also had rapid improvement in mobility as of late - I am just waiting to turn around and see her walking. Amelia is great at crawling, pulling up and cruising. Apparently at daycare she pushes her crib (on wheels) into the center of the room. So I don’t think it’ll be long before she just lets go and walks, especially if we spend some time with her cousins in August who are all older than her. Walking is one of those amazing milestones that I’m excited for, but I know it introduces a whole bunch of new baby proofing we haven’t addressed yet. We also can’t forget her mobility that has lead to dancing - she loves to dance to about any music we turn on, whether its her ‘Signing Times’ dvd or Jimmy Buffet on the iTunes.
Amelia has also become very affectionate these last few months. She hugs on her teachers at school, and gives great hugs to us as well. This past weekend she decided to love on Uncle Joey as well, just curling up on his chest - it just makes your heart melt. She also has become quite good at giving kisses - though hers are the open mouth attacking cheek variety (and if you aren’t careful, mouth). I love them though, she gets so excited about it.
As part of the growing stage, Amelia has also gotten quite good at tantrums. To her credit, there generally is a root cause - she’s tired or hungry, and then something sets her off. I guess I can see why she doesn’t understand she can’t play with the remotes (she almost bought something the last time we let her have it). So, just in case all of you think she’s always an angel - I did capture this moment.
Last night, Amelia got a long fun bath which she loves! Had to get her sparkling clean for her big first birthday at school today. Her hair keeps getting longer and curlier - I thought it’d be funny to try a shampoo mohawk, but the curls just wanted to take over instead.
Baby daddy and I are so blessed to have Amelia in our lives. We can’t remember what it was like without her, and don’t want to - its too great with her in it. I am in shock she is one today, but also happy we’ve made this milestone. I’ll try not to tear up too much as I go through the day, remembering all the great things about this past year and all the emotions from this day last year. I know I’ve forgetten to write things I wanted to write, but I have many more years to blog about all the cute and wonderful things as Amelia Takes On The World.
Love,
Baby Momma
I think she is close, but I am not sure she is ready to walk quite yet so we’ll see.
