In celebration of a wonderful girl who just happens to be my daughter...

Today Anne is one! A year ago today John and I were holding our little bundle and wondering how a human so small could make such a big change in our lives in just a few hours. It amazes me more and more when I think back and wonder where did the time go? I cannot imagine or remember Anne any way other than who she is now. When I look at newborns I am overwhelmed to think that I used to nurse this little one, solely, and that was her source of food. Little things like that blow my mind. Here is what our tiny girl is up to these days nowt hat she is officially one year old.

Anne can stand on her own by pushing up from the floor. She also crawls, climbs steps, and cruises. I think walking is probably still a few more months off, but time will tell. She also loves to self feed and pretty much hates being fed unless it is something absolutely yummy like yogurt and then she will stand for it. She eats peas, carrots, pasta in sauce, grilled cheese, yogurt, any fruit, cottage cheese, and lots and lots of Gerber Graduates.

Although she doesn't say any words yet, she makes a lot of noises and often seems to hold "conversations" with us. She loves to explore faces with her hands, mainly mouths, and in the past few weeks has learned to offer anything she is holding to us for us to chew on. She thinks it's especially hilarious when I pretend to suck on her bottle or a pacifier.

Anne is starting to put a lot of things together. She knows how to hold the phone to "talk" on it, she knows shoes go on her feet, she puts combs and brushes to her head to brush her hair, and she claps when she hears anyone say "yay" or start the "patty cake song". She also has a "best friend" named Ducky whom she sleeps with every night as well as literally hugs, kisses, and tackles to the ground in joy when she sees him or holds him.

Today, on her birthday, Anne went to the doctor weighing in at 17lbs 15oz, more than tripling her birth weight. She is 27.75 inches tall, just a quarter inch shy of the 10 inches she was expected to grow her first year. Although she is in the 5th and 10th percentile for weight and height respectively, I was surprised to hear that she is in the 66th percentile for her head circumference! Anne also had an unpleasant experience of her first shots today. :( She cried very hard and snuggled sadly into me, which is very unusual for has as she's an independent girl. The whole way out to the car she sniffled.

In celebration of her big day, Daddy and I took Anne to the Build-A-Bear store at the mall and let her pick out a bear. (Believe it or not she actually did pick him out.) We then stuffed him and named him "Ra Ra" (as this is one of her current favorite phrases). John and I look forward to buying her lots and lots of accessories for Christmases and Birthdays. We also took her out to eat at CiCi's-a pizza buffet-as she does enjoy pizza. Finally, we ended her long day with her first taste of cake, which of course she loved!

Happy birthday my darling, Many happy more ones to come!

Love,
Mommy, Daddy and all those who love you too!