Day 365: Happy 1st Birthday!

Baby girl, you are 12 months old!! I just can't believe it! You grew up on me, and I know there's still a whole lot more growing to do. Yes, we bombarded you with the camera on the morning of your birthday, because we had to cherish and record every moment, just like the day you were born. We set up your birthday present the night before, and made sure you walked into the living room to see it, though you are a fan of being cuddled in the morning so you weren't too excited until you saw what was waiting for you.

"What's going on here?!" 

"Mom, what's that?!" 

"My own car?! I love it!" 

Determined to honk the horn, which you have yet to do

Starting it up!

She loves it!

Monthly picture

After breakfast and playing for the day, we headed out to the mall. Daddy and I decided that for your first birthday we would get you a Build-a-Bear and every year, until you were over it, we would take you back for a new outfit, etc. We held up several options and you reached out for a stuffed dog, you are your Daddy's daughter! We asked what you wanted to name her, and all you kept saying was "ello!" so we went with "Ella" since it's close to how you say hello. We went out to lunch and then headed home for your nap. We had family pictures scheduled for the evening, and then all of your grandparents, aunts, and uncles came over for cake and presents!

We had a wonderful day with you! You are talking a lot and signing a lot and have changed so much in just 12 short months. We went through some rough times, but those are all outshone by the wonderful days we've had. I've been lucky to be a part of all of your firsts and that just warms my heart. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us as you get older. I have a feeling you are going to be a handful, but that will keep me on my toys and prepared for any future siblings :) Love you, bug! Happy Birthday!

On the 28th, we went in for your 1 year check up. You are 30.75" (94%ile) and 23lb10oz (93%ile). Big girl! You got your shots, and unfortunately had a reaction to the chicken pox one. I was very upset as I didn't originally want to get it but your personality was never affected and all the spots were gone within 2 days. The doctor was impressed with your verbal skills, though you didn't like him too much. I had just calmed you down from your exam when the nurse came into the room with the shots, luckily you were fine by the time we left the room, and back to normal once we got home and played outside. 

Daddy and I are so blessed to have you in our lives and thank God every day for allowing us to guide you through this life. I can't wait to teach you and watch you learn! You are so inquisitive and try to mimic everything dad and I do and you're pretty good at it too!

Day 363: Christmas

So these next few posts will most likely be brief because well most of it went by in a blur and I'm finally getting my head screwed back on.

Christmas Eve we made cookies and set them out for Santa. We all got in our Christmas Eve pajamas and had a photo session in front of the tree!

Santa came and ate the cookie and left some pretty exciting presents! Paul and I had a blast setting her presents out, and have some pointers for next year- aka open everything and put it as together as possible. 

When Rylee got up the next morning, she went straight for her "Santa gift," her PBK My First Anywhere Chair. She also checked out the plate with this missing cookies and milk.  I will say that Santa was pretty successful for all of us! Rylee got her chair, a shopping cart, a xylophone, some books, snow boots, and in her stocking was 2 new sippy cups, a turtle night light, and 2 DVDs: Shawn the Sheep and Potty Time!

I got a Keurig and a griddle, two things I was very excited about! Who knew I would ever want kitchen appliances?! Paul got a robe and a new electric razor. 

After breakfast, we headed over to Paul's parents and that's where I got lost in playing and not taking pictures. We spent several hours there and Rylee got one of her favorite toys: a ball pit! Thanks Josh and Staci for introducing us to this great toy at Zoey's birthday party! Rylee played in that thing almost the entire time we were there! If it weren't for lunch, I doubt she would've gotten out. Rylee had a blast playing with her Aunt Suzie, who she must've missed over the past year! She was tentative around her Uncle Eric, but would warm up to him every now and then, and then be shy again. After this week, Paul and I have vowed it won't be a year before seeing them again! 

After lunch, we headed over to my parents, where we hoped Rylee would take a nap, but that didn't happen. Though we were lucky, she did great the entire day. After dinner, we opened presents there and Rylee got some more great things! And I got a Kindle, which I love! Rylee is a very lucky, very loved little girl. 

She slept great that night and has loved and had a blast with all of her toys since then. 

Day 354: Sign Language

When Rylee was 4 months old, we started doing sign language with her. Thanks to some great advice from moms on the Babysteals Facebook page, we bought the Baby Signing Time DVDs. It was a lot of money and I was worried if Rylee would even enjoy them at such a young age or how effective they would be. The first time I popped one of the DVDs in her eyes lit up and she just stared in amazement. I'm not sure if it was all of the babies on the screen or the music or the cartoons or all of it together. But I knew even if she didn't learn sign language that she would love the DVDs for any moments when I needed to sit her down real quick (or to avoid meltdowns on car trips!).

As I learned the signs, I started incorporating them into our everyday talking to Rylee, and Paul did the ones he picked up on. The main ones I wanted Rylee to learn was milk, more, and eat. Knowing those would be the most essential, though I did all of the ones I learned/knew.

At 7 months, she started signing milk and was thrilled when I responded by giving her a bottle, and so it began. She really tested it out that first week or so and was constantly signing milk, and seemed pleasantly surprised when I would always give her a bottle. After a few weeks though she seemed to be moving on to bigger and better things and didn't take the time to sign milk anymore. In that time she started waving bye bye and pulling up on everything and cruising. She definitely was back into physical learning mode.

Randomly about 2 months ago she started signing milk again. She was ready to use her communication skills again. In the last month or so, her signing skills have grown exponentially. I'm shocked, surprised, and thrilled all at the same time.

Towards the middle of November she started to sign more and learned to clap in the same week. I was so proud! In the last 2 weeks, she started to sign:  finished/all done (she says done when she does the sign), sign, ball, and hot. She uses the sign "sign" when she wants to watch her Baby Signing Time DVDs, which is always! HAHA! She is also working on the sign for outside, though it looks more like bye bye right now.

Today was the first time she signed "hot." She loves watching our front-loading washing machine, and today I was doing a load of diapers. I use a very hot setting to wash those and the glass door gets hot to the touch, so I told her it was hot and used the sign when I said it. She looked at the washer, then looked at me and signed hot and said "ha." She then touched the washer and did the same thing. About 10 minutes later, as I was putting lunch into the oven, without any prompting she walked up behind me and did it again. At the washer, I was doing it with her, but at the oven/stove, I didn't even say anything, she just knew. Then all night when anyone was near the stove, she would do it again, without any kind of prompting.

If I could afford it I would buy every parent a set of the Baby Signing Time collection. Rylee is communicating and learning so much right now, thanks to that. When the DVDs are on, I see her moving her fingers trying to make the signs she sees on the screen. She's actively learning and then applying it. I can honestly say it's the absolute best money I have spent on her, nothing beats communicating with your children.

Day 341: Smash Cake

I wanted to do Rylee's smash cake pictures at home before we put up our Christmas decorations inside. I'm trying my darnedest to keep Christmas and her birthday separate, so we did the pictures today! I took them because my fave photographer (Trisha with TG Photography) was all booked up- that's what I get for procrastinating- so they aren't the best, but they work. After a disastrous icing incident and a "quick" trip to Wal-Mart, the cake looked horrible, but Rylee stole the show!

Day 340: Growing Up

Rylee's taking a nap and the dishes are clean and I don't plan on doing laundry until later, so why not blog? I'm sure I should be doing something else, but I have no desire for that :)

My baby girl is going to be 1 year old in just 25 short days. How can that be?! Wasn't it just last week she was born and completely dependent on me? Wasn't it just yesterday she was learning to roll over? Wasn't it just this morning she was learning to crawl?! Now I have a walking, independent toddler.

She spends most of her days running around the living room stopping in short bursts to play and then back to toddling around. She chases Dodger when he lets her, but chasing Paul and I suffices too. Then, she squeals when we turn it around and start chasing her. We still cuddle every morning with an episode or two of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse- though the only parts she cares about are when they sing. Then it's off to the kitchen for breakfast and then playtime. I always have PBS on, but she never stops until Signing Time! comes on. She loves signing and Rachel, though she prefers Baby Signing Time- it's more interactive and cartoonish.

I still can't believe how fast we got to where we are. How has it already been a year? I know time seems to go faster every year, but this was insanely fast!! I feel like I barely turned around...

December 27th will be a bittersweet day, and I'm sure I will cry a little bit. I didn't cry when Rylee was born- I was too emotionally awestruck and in love, but on her birthday I'm sure the tears will come from just remembering all the good, bad, wonderful, and terrifying moments.

This was a pointless post but it's just what I was thinking.