Sunday, March 31, 2013

Surfacing

My lack of blogging is probably getting a little annoying.  At least it is to me anyways.  I always say that I'm going to blog when something happens, or when we do something fun, but then I get wrapped up into another project and blogging takes a backseat.  I really need to get better about it because I'm forgetting so many memories because I'm not writing them down.  And, at the end of the day, blogging is really for me to remember everything.

So, we are shoulder deep in stuff to get ready for a certain little lady's first birthday party.  I just can't believe that my baby is going to be one is two short days!  I keep thinking back to last year and the anticipation and excitement that I felt.  Each day I kept wondering if that day would be the day that I finally met my daughter.

Bear with me, as I get through this next week.  I'll post her twelve month letter and then I'll do some birthday party posts.  Hopefully after that things will be a little quieter around here and I can do a lot more posting.  This age is seriously so fun!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Eleven Months

Dear Annelise,

I just can't believe that in one short month we will be celebrating your first birthday.  I keep thinking back to this time a year ago and remembering how excited and anxious I was for your arrival.  I had no idea how much my life would change and how much joy you would bring me.

You are walking!!!  You started off slow, with just a few tentative steps to me.  I would stand you up, and back up a little bit and encourage you to walk towards me.  You'd take a couple steps and then lose your balance and fall into me.  After a few days, you started to walk the few steps between your toys.  Then, before I knew it, you took off.  You would walk a short distance, maybe 7 to 10 steps, and then cling on to the next object.  You seemed to do it most when you thought I wasn't watching.  But, little lady, I'm always watching you!  I would catch you when you didn't think I was watching.  After you would get to where you wanted to go, I would cheer for you.  You would look at me and grin and sometimes even clap your hands.  I think that all my cheering really encouraged you to walk more.  Now, it seems to be your preferred method of movement.  I notice that you would much rather walk places than crawl.  Occasionally, you'll still crawl, but only if there isn't anything quick and close by for you to pull up on.

We've finally hit the jackpot with your sleep.  You go to bed easily, and sleep all night.  It's taken us a long time, and a lot of struggle and learning, but we've made it.  Every once in a while, you'll wake up in the night.  But, we know that something is wrong with you then, and try to figure out what it is.  Sometimes you're wet, and sometimes I think you may have had a bad dream or something.  Naps have been a little wonky.  But, I think that is because you are working on walking.  Once you master that more, your naps will go back to being better.
You have really started to be a chatty little girl.  I love how much you talk to us.  I try to keep your pacifier out more so that you can work on your vocabulary.  You've said "mom" and "mama" for quite some time, but now I think that you've added "dad", "hi", and a version of "dog".  You also will growl back to us if we growl to you.  You even do it if Maya groans.  It's adorable, and it melts our hearts.  Your grandparents love when you do it too!

You continue to be a fantastic eater.  You love being able to feed yourself and you definitely do not mind trying new things.  I love to watch you pick something up and bring it to your lips and taste it before you eat it.  You drink water with all of your meals, and you do a great job with your sippy cup.  You still haven't figured out how to use a straw yet.

You've had quite a few bumps and bruises lately.  You even had your first black eye.  You were playing in the kitchen with the gate, and it started to swing and you fell and hit your face on it.  You cried some, but you were better after some snuggles.  It just started off with a bruise on your cheek, but then spread to underneath your eye.  It looked pretty bad, and I'm sure people kind of side-eyed us a little bit.  Of course, it didn't help that two days after that happened, you bonked your forehead on the side table in the living room and got a bruise there too.  It breaks my heart when you hurt yourself.  Let's just keep the injuries small and simple, ok?
I just keep commenting to people about how fun you are lately.  I certainly loved you before, but I can feel my love grow for you every day.  I love that we can play together and that you laugh and giggle when we do.  I love that I can tickle you and get these awesome giggles where you show all of your teeth.  I love that I can chase you around the living room and you run away and screech while you do.  I love nothing more than to find ways to make you smile and laugh.  My heart just swells with love every time I get to see joy in your face.

My darling, you are quickly leaving behind the baby stage and moving so quickly into toddlerhood.  It is so surreal that soon I will be the mother of a toddler.  I have such a hard time picturing that.  I always pictured myself as a mother to a baby, but never a toddler and older.  I just can't wait to see all of the fun things that are in store for us.  I will treasure this last month with you as a "baby".  I love you more than all the numbers.

Love you forever,
Mommy