1 year old...what???

My dearest Malia Belle,

It is so hard to believe that last year at this time, you were still in my tummy.  Dr. Teagle had broken my water and the contractions were coming on like crazy.  I was so tired from being in labor for so long and so anxious to meet you.  

And then when it finally happened, I was able to push you out, I fell in love instantly.  You crawled up on my chest and latched right on, it happened just like it is supposed to. You were here, my little girl was finally here.  I remember our first few days together, just me and you, staying at the hospital.  You were a champion nurser and a champion sleeper from the start. I love that special time we had together, just the two of us.   I knew it would never be like that again.

This past year has just gone by way to fast.  I look back on your pictures and it seems like it was all a big dream.  I can't believe you are no longer a little baby.   You are even losing all your chub (your legs are still incredibly and yummily squishy).  

I love you more and more each day.  You are so sweet, so curious, so darn smart, and so beautiful.  You know just what to do to get our attention...a lot of yelling, and we just melt when you smile.  Right now, you are a true mama's girl.  You want me to carry you around all the time and do not like to be left alone....such a different personality trait than your Ge Ge.  I am relishing in all the attention from you because I'm pretty sure you will be a baba's girl soon enough.  You definitely have him wrapped around your finger already, he is putty in your hands! :)

You are still a fabulous sleep (knock on wood).  You take a morning nap, around 8:00, sleep for about 2 hours, and then an afternoon nap around 1:00, again for about 2 hours.  Bedtime for you is early, no later than 7:00, usually around 6:30.  If Baba was home at night, you would definitely go to bed earlier in the evening.  But wake up time is really early, 5:00 a.m.!  You will sometimes lay in your crib and hang out for awhile but some mornings, you are up for the day.  No more laying you back in your crib after you nurse in the morning, you don't want to get back in there.  You actually point to the door.  Most mornings I will sit with you, in the rocking chair, and read some books with you, while I try to wake up.  I still can't believe you sleep through the night.  I really didn't believe such a thing existed, babies sleeping through the night.

You eat 3 solid meals a day, with a snack between lunch and dinner.  You eat everything, and so much of it.  I never get tired of watching your little hands pick up food and shove it in your face.  You drink around 25 oz of milk a day and love your milk warmed up.  You are no longer using a bottle, I found a sippy cup you can hold and that you love.  You drink milk while I am changing your diaper before your nap (you won't cry if you have your bottle) and while I am putting on your pj's before bed ( again, it keeps you calm and in one place).  

Here are some things you have been up to this past month:

-Oh my gosh, you are waking up SO early, like at 5:00 a.m.  Please, oh, please, sleep in just a little bit!

-I stopped pumping a few weeks ago.  You still nurse in the morning, even say, "googly googly", which means you are thirsty as you tug on my shirt. Throughout the day you drink cow milk, a sippy cup before each nap and one before bedtime.

-You are getting an opinion on what you will and won't eat but are still a great eater.  One morning you may not want raspberries but then at lunch you are gobbling them down.

-You went from cruising a little to cruising a lot.  You like to pull yourself up on things and are obsessed with your Ge Ge's white Pottery Barn chushy chair.  You are constantly climbing into it and falling backwards out of it, which of course hurts your head and makes you cry.

-You are moving all over in the crib, even pulling yourself up and crying (up to your knees).  I have been waiting for you to figure out that you could move around in the crib.

-You are doing "pat pat the bunny" (the book).  I love watching you copy what the little boy and girl are doing in the book.

-You just love life, everything is so exciting...going to trader joe's, seeing books at the book fair, you just love getting out there and experiencing it all.  You point at everything and say "ooh", really loudly.

-You love to empty all the books out of your book basket in your room and pulling them off the shelves in the living room.

-You are crawling from room to room.  Your favorite room in your Ge Ge's.  You think it is really funny to be on his bed and to try climb the ladder to the top bunk (not so funny baby girl).  Good thing Ge Ge loves having you in his room, at least for now. He thinks it is hilarious that you follow him around.

-You are always trying to put on hats or helmets and think it is so hilarious.  I have also seen you flying Buzz Lightyear around, making sound effects and playing with the swords, making sound effects, it is pretty darn cute.

-You have been using sign language, which is exciting.  I just hope you keep it up.

-You absolutely detest having your diaper changed.  I have never seen anything like it.  You cry bloody murder if you are on your back and know that the diaper is coming off.  You always try to escape and often do.  Then, as soon as it is done, you stop crying, like nothing has ever happened!

-Going outside is a must.  You get so sad when you are not coming along on an outing.  If I am taking Ge Ge to school, you get really mad and cry, then you look out the window, wave at us leaving, and say "bye bye".

I am having so much fun with you Malia.  You are such a sweet little girl and I just want to squeeze you all the time.  Thank you for choosing me to be your mama.  I am so lucky.  I hope you have a fabulous first birthday today.  You are so loved.

love,
your mama