Alison Michelle, you are one year old today. I woke up this morning remembering this morning last year. I was SO ready to be done being pregnant, and I was SO ready to see your smiling face. I was nervous that I wouldn’t be capable of loving you as much as I love Reed, and I am still nervous about how to raise a confident, Godly, happy girl. But oh how I love you. All of my fears are pushed aside every single time I see your sweet smile and you reach for me. I can not wait to watch you grow and listen to you talk and fingure out how your sweet little mind works. All moms who have more than one child are right…it IS possible to love the second baby as much as you love the first.
As 1 year old you have 5 teeth. You have just decided to drop down to one nap a day. Selfishly I love that you and Reed are finally on the same nap schedule. Weekends are going to be so much more fun now that we aren’t spending the bulk of the day at home around nap times. On New Years Day you took your first steps. You are definitely not ‘walking’ yet, but you are getting more adventurous.
One of your funny new things is that you demand that we hold you and walk around the house so you can point at every single picture on the wall. It is so cute because you just love to point at things. Last night you figured out how to work the light switch so I’m sure that will become a new pasttime for you too.
You are SUCH a water baby. When you are in the bathtub you choose to lay on your belly and put your face in the water. You do this over, and over, and over again. When you pull your face out of the water you have the biggest smile on your face. You would stay in the bath for hours if we let you.
Last night at dinner you would only eat green beans and blueberries. Anytime we tried to feed you something else you would blow raspberries at us. You screamed when we took you away from the table…until you realized Daddy was taking you into the bathroom. Then you kicked those little feet and tried to jump out of his arms.
You are trying to talk. The funniest thing is when you drop food on the ground (which you do ALL the time) you look at me and make the ‘O’ face and say ‘UH-ooooh’. Melt my heart. Last night at dinner you actually made the ‘more’ sign (in sign language) and I was so excited. I love that you are becoming more communicative.
If Reed is the singer in the family (and he is) you are definitely the dancer. Anytime you hear music you start dancing. On New Years Eve we were listening to a PINK album and you could not contain yourself. I wish I had video of your dance moves.
I know I say this all the time…but you and Reed have the SWEETEST relationship. He can’t wait to see you when you wake up from your nap. And when you see him you kick your feet and smile so big. I think the only time you want me to put you down is if Reed wants to play with you. Reed is moving to the other side of the day care building soon and I’m so sad. Every day you two get to see each other. When he is playing outside he pulls a car up to the window to your room. He stands on the car and demands that your teachers put you in a seat by the window so he can see you. One day I walked in when this was going on. Your back was to me and you were facing Reed on the playground. You were kicking your feet and waving your arms so much. Seriously. Melt my heart.
I know I say it all the time, but I love you so much. You have been a handful this first year, and you better believe we are thankful that you have finally figured out how to sleep through the night…but that sweet smile makes up for all of it. I love being your mom and I can’t wait to see the person you will become.
Happy Birthday Ali!!!