Lucy at 14 Months

Dear Lucy, 

You're really figuring out this whole toddlerhood thing with every day that goes by. Each morning I feel like I'm dropping off a baby at daycare and pick up a big kid. You're fully walking now -- and still falling, especially when you're tired. The bonus to the walking is you don't find little bits of string on the floor to eat. :) 

In language developments, you say my name! It's always "mmmmmm-om" and not "mama", but I'll take what I can get right now. I've been waiting so long to have a name from you. You mix up your constanant sounds -- books are still gocks and dogs are dos, but I'm sure you'll have an explosion in the next few weeks.   You are adjusting really well to your new school and to a completely new schedule. You surprise me with the things you now that I know you learn at school like sitting down and doing hand motions when I sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider." 

You thrive on praise and celebration when you do something well. You just love the positive reinforcement and mimic us when we only do a reinforcement once. For example, you clap your hands together in delight when you put your sippy in the designated spot on your highchair tray and when you kind of sort get the shape in the right place. When you're reprimanded or redirected, you either laugh at us or cry.

You definitely have developed object permanence. If your toy rolls under the TV stand, you stoop down low to find it -- it doesn't just disappear because you can't see it anymore. And with that comes separation anxiety when I drop you off at school. Fortunately you snap out of it quickly, but it still breaks my heart when you lunge for me and cry as I'm making my way out the door.

The last month hasn't been the best in regard to your health. You've had a hacking cough that made you throw up, pink eye (which required a trip to an urgent clinic), the worst teething pain due to emerging molars, and eczema. Most of the above affected your eating, so you haven't been eating much and went through a weird couple of days of hating meat. I want to encourage more utensil-using soon. You eat a little bit of everything I offer for the most part, though you sometimes push away things you liked previously. Guess I need to prepare myself for the fickle toddler period. You're also like that with everything else. I offer milk, you push it away. I offer it again and you snap it right up. You come over to my leg and want to be held. So I pick you up and you try to leap out of my arms 5 seconds later.

You're also developing a mischief streak. When I tell you to stop touching food to your hair when you eat, you grin at me and slowly raise it back up. We did this several times. And when your father tells you to stop pulling at his shirt collar, you turn to me with the expression "Is this guy for real?" and slowly put your hair back up his collar. I think we're in for some trouble! 

Lucy at 13 Months

Dear Lucy,

You are now a toddler to me and no longer a baby. Right after your first birthday, a switch flipped. All of her mannerisms went from baby to big kid. The way you mock cough and laugh whenever you hear someone else cough or laugh; the way you started testing out those legs to get them ready for walking, the way you transitioned cold turkey from bottles of formula to sippys of milk -- you're such a big girl now! And you are sooo fun. As adorable as you were in that first year of babyhood, you are a thousand times more fun to play with and be around now. Sure, you test my patience by getting into things you shouldn't and eating random bits of who-knows-what off the floor, but that's normal!

And now you're almost fully walking -- you often fall about 10 steps in, but you get better everyday. We recently changed your daycare center last week, and your whole schedule has changed. You've dropped your morning nap and now take a long afternoon nap. You're so exhausted in the evening, so you're content to eat your dinner and then hang out with us on the couch in between playing with us and your toys.


Your language skills are still emerging. I think you understand what I say, but you're not trying to use many words. Books are "gocks." Still no "mama" even though you've been saying dada forever. You're just a total stinker -- so much attitude, yet so bubbly. You love eople, but would rather play independently when there's other kids around. Your favorite song is "If You're Happy and You Know It." And your favorite toys are anything you can stack or put in and out of things like the FP Picnic Basket.

You're big into kissing us now. It's the sweetest. I never want you to stop!

One Year Photo Session and Cake Smash

Lucy's 1st Birthday Party

Our Lucy is 1!

I always assumed I would cry all day on her first birthday and walk around in some nostalgic fog. But thankfully, her party fell on her birthday, so I didn't have much or energy to dwell on the milestone itself because I was busy setting up and stressing out!

We had about 45 people attend the party, which was held in the banquet room of the restaurant where my mom works. The theme was vintage shabby chic -- to a degree.

12 Months

Dear Lucy,
You're a whole year old now! How is it possible it's been the fastest and sometimes, slowest, year of my life? In your first year of life, you've experienced an insane amount of changes and growth, going from lumpy newborn to curious, mobile big girl.

You are generally a go with the flow kind of kid. You shine when you're out and about, around people, though you get pretty loud in restaurants. You love smiling at people -- especially complete strangers. You never seemed to develop a shyness around people and will go to almost anyone. Though when we're home, you cry when Mommy leaves the room you're in. You don't have many fears -- and you don't dwell too long when you have a fall or bump into something -- though you hate the swingset.

You are learning so many new things now -- you mock cough and laugh when you hear someone do either. You can say a few words and repeat after us. The other day you showed someone a sock and said very clearly 'sock!" You sometimes understand "no." You're interested in other kids, but don't really play with them a lot. You do the cutest thing when you see certain people, mostly adult men, where you cock your head to your shoulder and give the cutest, shyest smile.

And oh my, you have an attitude on you. You want to do things your way and dislike when Mommy diverts you from doing something you shouldn't be. Changing your diaper/clothes is akin to a wrestling match most times, unless we can occupy you with a diaper or toy.

In all, you're way more than I could have ever imagined. I still can't believe you're mine, beautiful girl.

Love, Mommy

Lucy at 49 Weeks

Weight: 20ish I think.  But she doesn't get weighed until after her birthday. 

Medical Issues: Just getting over a seasonal cold right now -- some coughing and snotty nose stuff. But I think that's just par for the course the next few months, especially with her crawling all over and putting everything in her mouth. 

Sleep: About two naps a day. She's getting much better at not throwing a fit when we lay her down -- it rarely happens at night. It's like she just knows it's sleepy time and goes down without a peep. Her wakeup time is about 6:30 every day -- sometimes 7. Never thought I'd see the day! 

Clothes: Averaging 9 month clothing. 

Social:  Her verbal skills have been really improving this week. She tries so hard to communicate. While I don't know if they're actual words she will say things like dada, yeah, book, yuck and our favorite nonsense word -- mm-bah. I bet it means something to her though. She's consistently happy around everyone she meets -- her ultimate favorite are strangers. The stranger the better. 

Food: Purees and pouches and table foods and formula. It's fun giving her new foods to try. This week she's had cheese, noodle, roast beef, eggplant, hamburger.

Play: Loves taking all the books off the shelf and climbing on things she shouldn't. Huge fan of wrestling and chasing Dad. Loves tickle fights and being tossed in the air. When you tell her no, she tends to think it's a game and just laugh at you. 

Milestones:  Really verbal now and can stand unassisted for a few seconds until she realizes what's happening. LOL And first pumpkin patch!

10 Months

Dear Lucy,
Within the past two months, your little personality is coming through stronger and stronger. Just like you were as a newborn in those NICU days, you're feisty and hot-tempered. You don't like when I leave the room so you either cry or crawl after me and rock at my feet wanting to be picked up. You're very curious (some people may call it nosy), but you get that trait from your mama. I'll admit, it's a change from how you were from 2-9 months, so I'm getting used to it.

Your current loves are playing with musical toys and teethers (and the odd household item like measuring cups). We know we can get you to giggle by tickling you or giving you belly smooches. You get a kick out of our stuffed Basset Hound puppy, Sam. And half the time you giggle and smile when we tell you "no."

You definitely have a greater awareness for when Mommy or Daddy leave the room. For a few weeks this month, you got very clingy, especially in the mornings, and refused to be put down. You hate diaper changes, so I am learning to change you while you stand up on your Zany Zoo. You dislike your bouncer now because you're just too mobile to be contained.

Your hair is really growing in now! I don't think it will be too far off until I can stick bows in it!