Today is your FIRST birthday~

The whole day has made me reflective and grateful. Life has changed so drastically for your Daddy and me since you arrived – all for the better! You have brought such joy to us!!

We are grateful, too, for all those who have loved you to pieces and helped us raise you this past year. We couldn’t have done it without people like your grandparents, aunts & uncles, Aunt Judi & Uncle Jim, Tracy and crew, Nanny Sheri, Kristin, Missy and Orlene, Ellen, the Ball family, Mort & Diane, Nancy and family, Jeff and family, Chris and Kristine, and the list goes on and on. We are so blessed!

I hope you are having a WONDERFUL birthday Peanut Butter. You have totally captured our hearts!!

We love you forever,
*Mommy and Daddy

I think I didn’t write you yesterday because I am subconsciously trying to slow things down a bit… I cannot believe that you’ll be a year old already in less than a month! I squeeze you really tight hoping to treasure every possible second.

We didn’t do anything too special yesterday on your birthday… It was a pretty typical Thursday. Daddy went to the hospital for his school at 6:30am. You woke up around 8am (because you also had woken up at 4:3oam). We played for a while, and then off to work and daycare. When Daddy and I picked you up at 4pm, you were the only kid with Ms Orlean! There were 2 other kids earlier, but their Mom’s took them to the doctor – You have all been sharing some flu bug that carries with it, among other things, a yucky cough. You have it too, but yesterday marked the first day you seemed much better. You were so happy all day yesterday! So much fun!

After dinner (let’s see, what did you have? oranges, cheese, mixed fruit, ravioli, and some baby food), you had a bath. You have been taking baths almost every night. You really seem to like exploring things in the water. Maybe we’ll try swimming tomorrow if I can find a suit for you.

We read some books, had a bottle and headed to bed around 6:45pm. We were ALL pooped.

Let’s see – What are some new things you’ve been doing lately?

You crawl up steps with ease.
You pick up the tv remote, turn 180 degrees to face the tv, hold out your little arm, and push buttons. Hehehe
You said “duck” a few more times yesterday (we are pretty sure).
You put toys into containers and take them out again
I put an orange piece on your spoon, and you put the spoon and the orange in your mouth by yourself!
You help take your shirt off when we are getting ready for our baths.
You have the most WONDERFUL 2-tooth smile! It melts the hearts of many strangers and friends alike.
This morning at the play yard, you crawled up on the laps of a number of other adults and gave them smiles. I don’t think stranger anxiety has set in for you- I don’t think it ever will.
You give me hugs along with giggles every morning.

Today we headed to the soft play yard at the Medley Center before you went to daycare. We had a great time. And today, you are spending the afternoon with Ms Missy, again all by yourself. I bet you’re having a blast! We’ll see you very soon!

I love you Peanut Butter!
*Mommy

Hey there Peanut –

We met our new doctor today, Dr. Jane P. We have been to her office twice before for “sick” visits, but we weren’t able to see her those days. She was GREAT! She was sweet, competent, patient, gentle with you, caring! We are very blessed! There are 9 pediatricians in her practice, and I have only heard good things about all of them!

The bad news is that you have another ear infection… pretty much back-to-back with the last one. So this makes three times (Thanksiving, 2 weeks ago, and now). We will try a different antibiotic this time. We went in today because you had a bad diaper rash (yeast) from the first antibiotic. But Dr. P. gave us good suggestions for getting rid of that too. You seem to be dealing with it like a trooper! Wednesday night you cried for a bit between 11:30p and midnight, but we gave you a little pain medication and you seemed better.

Missy and Orlean were back at daycare today. Their own kids were sick, so they were out most of the week. Both you and I were very happy to see them today! Seems Missy takes as many pictures of her son as I do of you.

Okay, some milestone things:

You are eating primarily with your left hand. I think you might be left-handed! How fun!!


You love to walk holding onto someone’s fingers.

When you’re awake, you go and go and go and go and go and go! You are a VERY busy girl!


Your soft duck is your favorite toy.
You love the book “Black Cat White Cat” by Chuck Murphy. It is a pop-out book. Other favorites are “Peek-a-bo Kisses” and “Noisy Kisses” both by Barney Saltzberg, and “Fuzzy Bee and Friends,” a Priddy book.
Your 2 bottom middle teeth have grown in more… you have the CUTEST smile! It melts everyone’s hearts!
You are a cuddler!
You have started to take baths on your own.

You love hanging out with both your Mom & your Dad. If one of them is not in the room, you go looking for her/him.
You and dogs get along great… However, today you started to throw your food off your tray to them. (They’ll LOVE you for that, but Mom isn’t a big fan.)
You’ve been sleeping through the nights most nights.
You seem to really like daycare, but you also really like it when Daddy and I pick you up at the end of the day. We all giggle!!

Thanks for the joy you bring to our lives, Little One.

We love you!
*Mommy