(I started writing this post over a month ago, and finally finished it tonight -- Bella's 13 month birthday! And, apparently I published the unfinished draft of it last week, and didn't realize it...oops!) Miss Isabella Grace, I honestly cannot believe I am sitting here writing your twelve month post. You are officially ONE. YEAR. OLD. *cue tears* I feel like you have grown and learned SO much in the past two months. It's amazing. Some days, you come home from daycare with some new trick you learned, and it's like you've been doing it your whole life. I can't get over it. Here are all the new and exciting things that have been going on since your ten month post (if I can remember them all!)... ~ You are officially on all table food now! Such a big girl. You have a breakfast/lunch/snack at school (aka: daycare) during the day, and then dinner at home with us. And girlfriend, you can EAT! I'm honestly amazed at how much food you fit into that little tummy. But, you love your food...just like you're mama. ;) ~ We are down to nursing only twice a day now, in the morning (I actually still pump in the morning on weekdays, since it's so early) and before bed. The rest of the day you're getting regular whole milk (organic at home). The only time you get a bottle is in the morning with Daddy. At school you actually drink your milk out of little cups! I can't get over it. It's too cute. But, at home? You are stubborn when it comes to drinking your milk out of a sippy cup. You'll only drink about 2oz or so out of a sippy before you toss it on the floor and won't touch the rest. ::sigh:: We're working on it. ~ Unfortunately, the last time you were weighed was in mid-January, so I don't know your exact weight right now. (Bad mama!) But, back then, you were 17lbs. even. My little peanut! But, you have your one year appointment in April, so we'll see your exact stats then! ~ You are officially in 12 month clothes. Almost all of your 9 month clothes have been packed away, and you're in either 12 or 12/18 months. I remember the days when I used to look at those clothes and think that they'd never fit you. Now, some 12 month shirts don't even fit over your little buddha belly! Ha! ~ You're learning sign language at school, and your sign 'more' all. the. time. It's seriously one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Except, you don't do it exactly correct...you have one hand/palm completely open, and the other hand points to your open palm. It's hard to explain. I'll have to try and get it on video! ~ You are a crawling machine now! You aren't walking just yet, but, you can go from one side of the room to the other in .2 seconds by crawling. It's too funny. ~ You're always standing up and walking along EVERYthing! The couch, coffee table, tv stand, kitchen cabinets. If there's something for you to grab on to, you're pulling yourself up on it. And, you've recently started standing un-assisted for a few seconds at a time lately, too! I think you're finally realizing that you have a little more balance than you think you do, and you feel like such a big girl just standing there all by yourself. You have this look on your face every time you do it, like 'TA-DAAA!' I'm sure you'll be walking in no time. ~ You're still in size 3 dipes, and we've switched you to Pampers Cruisers diapers. You were leaking through the Luvs at night, so we decided to try Huggies Snug & Dry instead. Ugh, those were horrible! Your diaper wouldn't even be full, and you'd leak out of the side. It took just one time of you sitting on my lap and leaking out all over my leg for me to be done with those. Walking around a birthday party with a pee stain on your leg isn't the most glamorous look. Just sayin.
~ You say a few words now...Mama, Dada, ball ('buh'), uh-oh. You understand so much now, too! Even thought you can't say many words right now, you definitely know what we're talking about when we say it to you. You point to your head and nose when we tell you to; you pick up your socks when we say 'where's your socky??'; you get all excited when I say 'where's Bailey/Roxy/Fozzie Bear??' When I say 'more', you immediately do the sign for more. You amaze me each and every day with how much your little brain soaks in. ~ We've officially retired your infant car seat and you're finally in your big-girl car seat! Even though you still fit fine in the infant seat, I just couldn't lug you around anymore. ;) I think you like it even better now, though. You can see more! ~ You are such a smart little lady. When we say "Where's your head?" or "Where's your nose?" you point to each one. And, thanks to daddy (and the movie Old School), we've taught you 'earmuffs!' haha And, you do it so well. ;) ~ You seem to have your own little language, though. You're favorite thing to say is 'ah, DA!' You point to absolutely everything and say that. I wish I knew what it actually meant. :) ~ You have six teeth now! It's like you went from no teeth, to six teeth, in a month. Crazy! You have four teeth on the bottom now...with one that just popped through the other day. And you still just have two teeth on the top, with one or two more about to break through any day now.
Bella, you are such an amazing baby, and I honestly don't know how we got so lucky to have you. You've been such a blessing and I cannot imagine my life without you. I cannot wait to see what this next year brings, and to watch you learn and grow every day. XOXO, LOVE YOU!! Mama & Daddy
