educated... not so domesticated: ONE

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Oh hey, I'm ONE [12 months]

well, well, well

it has been quite some time since I have written

I've decided now that I'm such a busy one year old

I will just be checking in monthly with all my favorite things

because if I thought things were fun as a crawler

they are way better now that I can walk

and practically run
and climb on everything my parents don't want me to

I may have taken my first steps at ten months

but I officially mastered life on two feet

the week of my first birthday
crawling is for babies, clearly

on the food front I am eating a lot more these days

and as we found out at Disneyland

I am quite the carnivore

[sorry auntie meg, grandpa wins this one, for now at least]

when I practically ate half of my dad's cheese burger

all my eating has officially brought me to the 12th percentile for my weight

and I'm now tipping the scales at 17 pounds 3.5 ounces [sarcasm inserted here]

and I'm in the 34th percentile for my height at 29 inches

at my 12 month check up I was given the green light for everything

[tummy, toes, and nose all in the right places]

and besides the fact that I am not a fan of my nurse

[serious tears just looking at him, yet the burly bearded guy at home depot, no issues]

so mom said we would give this young guy one more chance

and then we may have to change doctors in the practice

if they won't let us see another nurse - apparently they are a strict package deal

on a happier note, I am dancing often

I love anything with a strong beat or drums

I can play my xylophone like it's nobody's business

I'm practicing my snapping skills

[because I have clearly mastered clapping]

I wave hello and goodbye to everyone

[except before mentioned nurse]

I'm getting better at hugs

and any little squeezes I give away to my family seem to be well received

I suppose I will keep the hugs coming

mom and I have a new lunch time classroom routine that involves

me getting to walk the empty hallways after

my speedy boobie snack session

and if I'm lucky, there may even be a big kid or two to stop and

say hello to - they are always my favorite

mama and dada are still being thrown about

but mom hasn't declared them as "real words" until they are used properly

and more than once

that's what I get for having a mom who is also a teacher

no babbling here will be passing for language

I do mimmic very well

and animals seem to be at the top of my word priority list

duck, cat, and dog have all been muttered in some way, shape, or form

so I think I will keep practicing my words

remember to give hugs

and hey, while I work all that out, I'll definitely be giving away free smiles

until next month

-Everly Mae

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

My dear Everly - today you are a whole year old. In so many ways you are still my little baby, and in others, a completely new child. I have been trying to write your birthday post for quite some time now, but things, like celebrating your big day, keep getting in the way. And instead, I'm writing this post at the most perfect time. It is about eight o'clock on your birthday, and you have just fallen asleep nursing. Your little body is snuggled in to mine, your hand is clinging to me, and you must be dreaming something pretty amazing, because your dainty limbs keep moving from time to time. The house is silent, and I am surrounded by all of your photos from your first year that are still hanging on the walls from your birthday party on Sunday. I'm not sure how long it will take me to pull down your birthday decorations, because then it will be real, my daughter is now one, and that milestone is done. You have made this first year such an amazing one. Thankfully, you have come into this world well adjusted and happy as all get out, and this has been the only saving grace to this working mom!

I am finding it hard to put into words how I feel on your birthday. It is such a mix of emotions. We enjoyed such a sweet day today. I promised that I would always take the day off from work for your birthday, and I am so glad that this is a tradition I started today. Getting to sleep in with you on this day, and having you wake up just before 7:20 this morning so I could say happy birthday to you at the exact moment you were born a year ago was perfection. Today we spent the day just the three of us. We went to Farrel's for lunch and a birthday sundae, something I hope we do every year. This year only two of the girls sang to you, so they didn't "scare you", but I really had them do it to spare your daddy from all the stress the birthday song in public attention gives him [we'll have to work on him with this, because next year, it is all out baby girl]. We also took a trip to the zoo, and guess what, you finally noticed the animals. You have been so many times, but could care less about the animals, and would people watch instead. But today, because you are a big one year old, you walked around the zoo like a champ, taking in every zebra and lion in sight!

You are still so tiny, and in many ways, you do not seem like the one year old babies I've seen before. But then you do things like put your shirt on practically by yourself, wave and say "hi" to everyone, especially our kitties, and help me eat an apple by taking huge bites and grinning as you chew it up, and that is when I realize, you are not a little baby anymore. You are really starting to keep us on our toes these past few days, and your daddy and I are realizing it is time for us to up our game when it comes to parenting. No longer do we leave the house as worried about how many changes of clothes and diapers we have, but instead, do we have something to keep you entertained? Thankfully, that batch of toys you got from your birthday party should help with this. I look forward to you starting to develop your own favorite things, and I cannot wait to see what your special toy or blanket will be.

From day one you have been tiny, with the biggest blue eyes, crazy personality, fantastic faces, and so easy to love. Today, my one year old, you are still tiny, with the biggest blue eyes, crazy personality, fantastic faces, and so easy to love. You will always be my greatest love.