things i don't want to forget

• olivia stood up all by herself without holding on to anything two days ago and has been doing it more and more every day! i think walking isn't too far off!
• tonight she fed herself some yogurt from a bowl WITH A SPOON!!!
• she can sign "more" and "all done"
• she points to the kitties and whispers "kee kee kee kee"
• i caved and did a version of sleep training.

she was just writhing around in the glider not falling asleep for hours and it had to stop. neither of us was enjoying it anymore, so i did our normal routine (bath, book, bottle) then rocked her for five minutes and put her in her crib. she immediately stood up and cried, so i'd lay her back down, rub her hair (or pat her back if she rolled over) for a minute and say goodnight and leave.

wait three minutes, go back in, wipe the tears, lay her down, rub her hair or her back, say goodnight and leave.

the first two nights i had to go in three times and the second night she wailed so much i thought she would throw up and *i* cried. but it's gotten easier and tonight, i just finished the bottle, gave her a cuddle and put her right to bed. she rolled over and snuggled her blankie and closed her eyes.

it's like a freakin miracle!

12 month debrief

liverbeans had her 12-month well-visit yesterday and she is right on track for growth and development! phew. we kept her safe for one whole year. only a lifetime to go!

stats for those who care about such things:

height: 29 3/4 inches 70th percentile (grew two inches since her nine month appointment)
weight: 21 lbs 15 oz 65th percentile (gained to pounds since her nine month appointment)

right where they want her to be.

she also had some SUPER AWESOME shots. ugh. the WORST.

MMR (was a bitch), hep a and one other i can't remember off the top of my head. after that, she had to get a lead test which involves pricking a finger and SQEEZING MASS AMOUNTS of blood out of it while she sat on my lap wailing and reaching out for her daddy, tears and sweat drenching her and me.

as soon as she saw the hello kitty band-aid on her finger, though, she was like OOOOH! and commenced to chewing on it. when we got home, she was clapping in her high chair and started to cry... her little bruised finger hurt when she clapped!

poor beaniepants.

wait, that was a YEAR?!?!

my sweet girl is one year old today. ONE.

i am too exhausted to talk about it but believe me. there is much to say.

a few quick notes:

she is almost switched over to cow's milk.

she is cruising along furniture so fast that it's only a short matter of time before IT'S ON.

she waves hi and bye bye.

she can feed herself (sippy, bottle and hand feeding. no utensils yet!)

the only "baby" food she has now is fruit mixed with her morning oatmeal. everything else is table food.

she loves veggie burgers.

she also loves herself some MEAT: deli turkey, ground turkey, seasoned chicken.

she has four teeth. two top fronts just busted through this week.

she is on the cusp of needing tubes for her ears. sigh.

she started in the "first steps" room at daycare today. BIG KID!

she loves the water. her tub time is golden.

oh cheerios. her kingdom for a cheerio.

she currently hates cheese. i KNOW. HOW is she related to me???

she now pulls her bows out and tries to re-place them on her head herself.

she also "brushes" her hair.

speaking of, we've got some hair now!

she loves her "kee kees" so much (the cats).

they? notsomuch on the loving her.

she loves books. reading them, eating them.

she gathers all her tub toys and places them in a bucket and then dumps them out. over and over.

she loves balloons.

she laughs the biggest and best laughs i have ever heard.

she hugs us now.

she sleeps on her belly, cuddling her blankie and sticks her little butt up in the air.

she makes life better every day than i ever, EVER thought it could be.

happy first birthday, my miracle. daddy and i love you AS BIG AS THE SKY.