Happy Birthday, Sweetheart: Lorelai at One Year

It is hard to believe we are here already. There were so many times over the past year I wished I could have hit "pause" and savored the moment a little longer, knowing full well how quickly and surely you'd change and grow and how fleeting it all is. I never knew how much I could love one little person sooo much, let alone three.

And here you are: one year.

Weight: 17 pounds, 13 oz. (about 5-10%)

Height: 29.25 inches (about 50-60%)

Head size: 45 cm (50%)

Teeth: 5

Hair: Blonde

Eyes: Blue

Our cute little peanut.

You have been walking for a month now, first steps a little earlier than that. You are quite good at it. You love to climb...up and down the steps you go, loving every minute. You even climb our kid slide on the deck and slide down by yourself. And the slide at the park. Wow, you are a toddler!

You talk a lot. No one really knows what you are saying, for the most part. Your words are "Hi", "Mama" and "Dada", and have been for some time. You can communicate when you want something though, and you understand a lot more.

You like to go outside on the deck, open cupboards, look through the trash (even try to eat an old banana peel in there), put everything in your mouth (though not as much as you have before), and plop in your lab with a book (for a few seconds, and then you are off to get another and do it all over again). Favorite foods include banana, cheese, peas, watermelon, beans and yogurt.

You do not like diaper changes, being corralled, or when Mommy leaves.

This past month, you added egg whites, cod liver oil, pumpkin and soaked oats to your diet.

Sleepwise, you have slept through the night (to 5 AM), although not consistently. You take two naps, 1-2 hours at a time. You do not like going to bed before your siblings. Hearing their voices will surely make you less than happy about being put to bed. You have not become attached to any particular object, stuffed animal or blanket...as of yet. You have not used a sleep sack for a few months. You do not suck your thumb and haven't taken a pacifier since your early few months.

You are very much loved, sweet girl!