Ava---12 months

ONE YEAR OLD BABY!  i can't believe that my baby is one.  oh my goodness.  she has just exploded in growth in every way recently.  she is so much fun to watch.  it seems like she will be walking by herself soon, but not quite there yet.  she really zooms around the house, walking while holding onto the wall or furniture or a push toy or basically anything that is stable enough for her to balance on.  she is getting better at climbing up stuff.  recently she can follow simple instructions, like if i ask her to hand me something or out something in the box, etc.  she tries to put shoes on her feet, she knows where some body parts are, like her head, toes, feet.  she vrooms play cars around making bbbbbrrrrrr noises.  she is extremely vocal if someone takes a toy or something from her.  lately she has been saying some words like "hiiiiiiii" and "helloooow" and the one she says the most is "uh-oh".  actually, i'm pretty sure her first word was uh-oh.  and z's first word was cracker.  haha, my kids.

little old lady for halloween

 so anyway, she is still doing a lot of the same stuff that i wrote about in the last monthly update.  she seems to have been going through something because she wasn't eating as much as normal and was nursing much more frequently.  also, we all had a stomach virus, so i'm pretty sure her little tummy didn't feel that great for a little while.  but she just seems like a toddler nowadays more than a little baby.  actually, today she took about 4 small steps from me to the coffee table at my in-law's house.  she also recently started scooting along on the floor with one leg tucked under her and then she scoots with the other leg, it is so funny, and she is surprisingly fast.

 

-feeding:  same, eats whatever we eat and is still nursing.  i may try to start night weaning now.  she really likes fruit, rice, meat...actually, she likes most food.  she still insists on feeding herself.  she even tries to feed herself with a spoon.  it seems like she doesn't like bananas and she doesn't really like mashed potatoes.  she doesn't really like mushy food.  especially if it sticks to her hands.

-growth: i swear she grew a little in length.  she is solidly in 12 month clothes now.  she is still so petite though with her little tiny self.  she has the two teeth on the bottom and the top two teeth are finally starting to push through and are visible now.  i haven't been to her 12 month appointment yet, so i am not sure her actual length and weight yet.

 

-development: very similar to last month's update, but she is right on the verge of walking, still climbing up on everything, is starting to say some words, can follow simple directions and starting to know who people are and where things are.  she started pointing, so she will point to something and kind of grunt until we let her see what she is looking at and explain.  it seems like she is understanding more and more and able to do more.  everyday there is something new.  actually, i was thinking that she is absorbing so much more info now that i need to step up my mama game.  i'm going to make more of a schedule for us during the day so that i can teach her stuff like colors, numbers, fine and large motor activities, read her some more books, all that.  she seems so interested in new activities.

 

-sleep:  her sleep is messed up right now.  we have been on vacation and so she was sleeping with us in the bed and when she does that she nurses like she's at an all night buffet and none of us sleep very well.  but even before that she was waking up a lot in the night crying.  i think because she was teething.  but anyway, we probably have to re-sleep train her.  and night wean.  ugh.  her naps are still great.

 she was fighting taking a nap one morning and so i just let her free range around her room and after about 10 minutes she just fell asleep on the floor, haha

-temperament:  same; cuddly, sweet, loving, funny, good sense of humor, likes to play, fiery, headstrong, a little sensitive, persistent, sometimes impatient.  lots of good stuff.

 

-likes:  playing, exploring, making messes, climbing, cuddling with mama and baba, her grandparents, she got some baby dolls for her birthday and she hugs them and pats them and rocks them and it is the cutest thing i have ever seen.

 

-dislikes:  sitting still to get dressed or diaper changes, having her face wiped, being messed with, being cold

little cuddler

it has really been a fast year with this little one.  we all love this little moosh so much and can't imagine our little family without her.  i am excited to watch her and Z grow up together.  i'm curious to see what kind of toddler she will be.  i love watching her play and interact with our family and friends.  i want to kiss and squeeze her all the time.