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

everly mae is eleven months old

Baby girl, I cannot believe that we are only a month away from your first birthday.  With the passing of each month, you become even more lovable, if that is even possible.  I love how you are coming into your own mannerisms and personality.  My favorite little thing lately is when you hold out your two hands and make little grabbing motions with your tiny fingers, letting us know that you are wanting something.  You have been so amazing at communicating from the beginning, and even though we are just trying out words and sounds right now, you are never unclear with your intentions. Everly Mae, you are your mother's daughter.  Even people who just meet you can see how determined you are with everything, and once you set you mind to something, you will make sure to complete the task.  This can be exhausting for your parents from time to time, even so, I love your drive to succeed. Thankfully, you have a perfect blend of your daddy, because people also comment on your calm nature when we are carrying you and out and about.  We always joked that we hoped that our baby would be this blend of our two personalities, and at eleven months, that is seeming to come true.  We are the luckiest.

Everly, you are such a little lady.  Now you are wearing big girl shoes, practicing your walking, and even fitting into some size 12 mo. clothing!  You are still the best snuggler at night, and I am so blessed that we began co-sleeping with you.  Happy baby, happy mama, and daddy enjoys the snuggles he gets too, once I'm off to work.

Everly, you are the light in every room.  We cannot go anywhere without people seeing how amazing your little presence is.  You bring joy to anyone who sees you.  Sometimes I think we are jaded because of how much attention we get from strangers about you, but then again, I am your mama, and that means your are infallible to me.  [to my students, I just used a WOW word in real life, bam.]  We just know to not leave home without your bow, or the comments on how alert and tiny our little boy is will start flying!  I love your giggle when I kiss your neck and it tickles.  I love how loud I can get you to laugh when running around any room.  I love how many teeth you show off with every smile.  I love watching you figure out this whole language thing, and soon I know these babbles will turn into words.  I love how infatuated my students are with you, and how everyone notices your eyes.

Hey Everly, you are stinkin' awesome.  You are my favorite.  We are the luckiest.  

Happy Eleven Months Baby Girl!

The end.

happy ten months everly mae

Everly Mae.  You make each and every one of these crazy days oh so worth it.  I wish that today was an easier day.  I wish that is wasn't so long, or busy, or that my foot didn't hurt like crazy from teaching on linoleum floors in less than perfect shoes.  I said to you yesterday that today we were going to be lazy.  And well, that just didn't happen.  There are always baths to be had, and high chairs to clean, and laundry to ignore.  And even though it all seems like too much right in this very moment, you make it all better. 

Your toothy grin is now your favorite accessory, and I swear that smile of yours gets bigger every day.  You are now such a big girl that you can climb off not only the sofa by yourself, but also our bed.  You are quite careful and confident with each movement you make.  I love that your are bite sized, and that you have allowed me to feel like I have a baby for just a little longer than others.  I love that you laugh so often, and have kept your amazingly easy nature. 

And even when you woke your mama up at 3:30 this morning for no apparent reason, I still loved each moment I had to snuggle with you, and the moments when I sang you back to sleep [even though I woke up humming the tune to the Pirates of the Caribbean, but I guess that is all part of the job]. 

Finally, you have come through your first real injury like a champ, I wish your parents could say they fared as well with the whole event.  Your little right eye is back to normal, and all of our positive thoughts paid off with no long term damage or scar tissue.  We are blessed.

we love you Everly Mae

happy ten months

everly mae is nine months old

Nine months ago today I had you, my Everly.  Thinking of all of the wonderful ways you have grown and changed, the personality that you have becomes clearer each and every day.  This past week you have really started to feel like quite the little lady.  You laugh all of the time, and that smile of yours gets bigger and brighter with each passing day.  Now when you smile, that mouth full of teeth is such the opposite to your petite frame, you still seem far too young to have so many teeth, but they give you even more character.  Now you stand so tall and sturdy, and cruise around the coffee table, and use all of the chairs as your own personal walking devices.  You and Luna chase each other around the house, play with string together, and truly have become best buds.  I love the way you talk yourself to sleep, sometimes humming, other times, making quite the spectacle.  These little things are so uniquely you, and I love them all.  Now when we are eating you have already mastered shaking your head "no" when full, or not into whatever I'm feeding you.  You are playful, determined, and have brought so much joy to our entire family.  Strangers adore you, and there is always plenty to talk about when it comes to you my dear.  Clapping your little hands, giving hugs, and practically leaping into my arms after I'm done changing you, these are some of my favorite moments right now.  And by next month, the list will be added to and changed, and I'm so excited that I get to watch you grow, and call you my own. 

 

 Everly, thank you for all that you do.

We love you to pieces, understatement of the century.

Happy nine months Everly Mae!!!

[and that beautiful motel chair that is popping up in all of everly's photos lately are thanks to my amazing in-laws who got me a pair for graduation, and now make for the BEST photo spot too]

Everly Mae is eight months old!

Everyday, Everly, you seem to be getting so grown up.  You came out with personality, but lately, that personality seems to resemble a little girl, not a baby.  As I write this you are sleeping on my lap, and I know that I am so lucky every time you fall asleep this way.  You seem to need me a little less everyday when we sleep, and I'm so thankful you are finding your independence, but a little sad too.  Just yesterday you slept on your tummy in your great-gram's family room, all by yourself for the first time.  No swing, no ergo, no person.  Just you, and yes, it was a big deal for your mama.  My little Everly, you are talking up a storm, you think you can walk, and swim, and you will soon, and we are going to enjoy every single day of it as you find your way.

Saying I love you Everly is an extreme understatement.

You have turned me into a pretty sappy mama, and I'm ok with that.

Happy eight months Everly Mae!

everly mae is seven months old

everly mae

you make every day worth it

I was worried before I had you that I wouldn't have enough energy

after working all day to still love you to pieces

but that just isn't so

you energize me every day

your smile is contagious

and laugh is to die for

I love your newest trick of grabbing my face

and nuzzling into it

we are even getting pretty close to giving kisses

and I love every chin bite that I'm passing off as a big wet kiss

your silly faces are killing me

and the screams and squeals you let out while talking 

and watching your little butt wiggle as you crawl across the house

are all the things that make you a pretty amazing little girl

I cannot believe I have already been your mom for seven months

thanks for making this ride the best I've ever been on

love you, E

happy seven months everly mae!

everly mae is six months old

everly mae, you are six months old today

I cannot believe how much you have changed

and how happy you make us each and every day

many people say that six months old is their favorite age 

because that is when personality really starts to show in babies

well, everly, thank you for keeping us so entertained everyday

because, you my little lady, came out with quite the personality

 oh, and I've officially decided you are quite the ham

you have figured out this whole camera business

and geez, you sure love our little "photo shoots"

so thanks for that, thanks for being an amazing daughter

thanks for making our family complete, and awesome

 we love you everly mae, very much indeed

everly mae is five months old

everly mae

you have changed our lives in all the best ways

I cannot remember how my life used to be before you were mine

you are such a happy little being

and that makes me even happier

you have melted my heart every time you grab my hand

touch my face

and ever so carefully run your hand against me

you, your never ending drool, and always busy hands

are all my favorite things

I will love you forever in a day miss everly mae

you are, as we always say, a keeper

and getting a little more fun every day

happy five months everly mae

everly mae is four months old

I cannot believe that every day Everly brings us even more happiness

her personality has really become even more apparent

these past few days

her smiles, and laughs, are all too much

her coos are full blown conversations if you ask her

I love when she finds another adorable way to show us

how much she loves us too

whether it be how she wraps her hands around us

or how she smiles at you while peeking over her daddy's shoulder

or looking up at me while nursing

it is pretty clear the love is mutual around here

happy four months Everly Mae

everly mae is three months old

our everly mae is changing more and more everyday

for example, yesterday she laughed for the very first time

and today, she rolled over "officially" for the first time

in fact, all the photos below of her on her back were taken after said event

I had put her on her belly for a few pictures

and turns out she wanted to be on her back

and so she got there, so fast I pretty much missed it

I'll be on the lookout for a repeat performance

as we move into February little things are starting to go away

for example, E's "scared face" is starting to be less scared

apparently the sensation of gravity is less scary these days

and when she sneezes, she no longer makes an adorable sigh after each one

again, I guess she is getting used to that sensation

and we are seeing way less sad faces these days

that lip curl was just too much to handle

I love watching Everly take everything in with such a happy stride

even choking on all that spit that constantly overwhelms her

makes our little E laugh instead of cry

and even though some of her "brand new to the world" tendencies are starting to leave

even more fun things are beginning 

so I will stay focussed on those

happy three months everly mae

I do love you more everyday

if that was at all possible