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!

Lucy at 47 Weeks

Weight: 20ish I think. Sometimes I lift her and think she's heavier than the day before, but that could be in my head! 

Medical Issues: We're over a tummy bug from 2 weeks ago and getting over a little cold from last week. Think she has teething pain, but it's hard to tell because she's been eternally teething. She's back to her fussy mood swings in the morning. It's super hard to put her down while I need to rush around the house getting us ready to head out the door. Also a lot of crankiness at dropoff. 

Sleep: She's been averaging 2 naps a day, down from 3. But the length still isn't solid. She goes to bed around 8 pm pretty consistently and wakes up around 6:30 am. Now that it's colder, I've been putting her in fleece footie PJs -- at least until we bring the space heater back in her room. When she wakes up in her crib or when she is mad I put her down for a nap, she'll crawl to the corner of the crib that faces the door and just rock on all fours. She can do that for a long time. 

Clothes: Most things between 6-12 months. I am realizing I may have overdid it on the 12 months winter clothes because they don't quite fit and it's getting chilly out there! Dressing her now is interesting because I have to think more about separates instead of one piece rompers and dresses. And I have to think about shoes soon too! 

Social:  Babbles a lot. Can say things that sound LIKE hi, bye, duck, book. Is only skittish around my immediate family, which is just so weird. 

Food: Purees and pouches and table foods and formula. I really need to get serious about decreasing her formula intake so she has room for three solid meals a day in prep for the big ONE. Had her first Pudgies Pizza and pumpkin donut from DD.

Play: Her musical table and Zany Zoo. Likes looking at and touching books. 

Milestones:   Her honorary grandparents babysat her while we went out on a date! She did well, from what we hear. :) 

Lucy at 45 Weeks

Weight: Probably around 20 lbs by now. Thinning out even more. Who would have thought I'd have a tall, lanky kid?! 

Medical Issues: A little snottiness. Popping two times a day during the week now. Probably some teething pain. Now has six teeth!! 

Sleep:  She sleeps until 6:30 am during the week and on Sunday she slept in until 7:30 am. Hallelujah! Her naps are pretty regular in that there's three a day. She can usually do hour stretches now -- sometimes longer. 

Clothes: Noticing she fits 6 month tops and dresses better than her 9 month stuff, yet 12 month pants fit her best in length.

Social: Started showing some Mommy preference recently. If I leave the room, she looks around for me and then wails. 

Food: Mainly purees, but trying to increase her table foods because I'm getting the hunch she gets frustrated being spoonfed. I will give her anything I think she can not choke on and that's not complete junk. Most of it ends up on the floor, but she does try everything I put in front of her.

Play: Her musical table and Zany Zoo. Likes looking at and touching books. 

Milestones:  Ran her first 5K!