12 Months Old!!!

Our precious baby is 12 months old! I can't even believe it that this year went by so fast! It has been such an amazing experience - from becoming parents to actually parenting! Wow-this is a hard job but also the best thing that we have ever done. Blakely has made Neal and I a family and made us realize how much love we have for each other and our baby!

She was tired when we took her 12 month pics and kept laying her head down to take a nap!


Posing so nicely for her pictures! This month went much better that 11 months.

I think the key is to do it when she is sorta in her happy sleepy state! ha!

Getting really sleepy!

12 months or 1 year, I sorta like saying 12 months better it makes it sound like she is younger! haha! Blakely at 12 months is such a pill, she is all over the house and into everything (it makes me secretly glad our house is so small)! She is getting more and more steady with her walking and even takes off RUNNING sometimes. She has two bottom teeth but none on top yet and in other tooth news, she has started trying to bite when she is upset or angry or if you just tell her she can't do something! She is very determined and wants what she wants when she wants it! Out comes the sad pouty lip and she starts crying when you tell her no. Diaper changes are near to impossible, she is moving, crying, wiggling, screaming target. But, then she is the sweetest, most loving little girl after you are done. When we pick her up and hold her she pats our back and it just melts my heart! I mean how cute is that! She is patty-cakes and claps her hands when you start to sing it - she also claps her hands together when you sing "If your happy and you know it." Thanks for Auntie Kandace and Nana for teaching her this (I think)! Not only is she adorable, she is SOOOO smart. We tell her "go get your baby doll" or "put the ball in here" and she does it!!! It is amazing to see her learning and understanding things right in front of you. She loves cell phones and remotes. She loves petting the doggies or looking out the window for them and makes panting noises - which is sign language for doggie. Some of her favorite toys are her new baby doll and stroller, farmhouse, her puzzles, looking through books and her ball popper! She goes to sleep around 7 or 7:30 and sleeps until about 6:30. Every morning or when you go to pick her up from her nap, she is standing up her crib and as soon as she sees you she starts grinning ear to ear - it is the sweetest thing. I usually pick her up and snuggle with her for as long as she will let me. Every night, I rock her for a bit and just smell her sweet baby smell and thank God so much for her and all that she has brought to our lives. She still takes two naps at home, one the morning and one in the afternoon. She is wearing mostly 18 months size clothes. Blakely has transitioned to mostly "real" food, eating what we eat or modified versions -she had a lot of fun with the spaghetti we had tonight sucking it up between her lips! Her favorites food is definitely fruit - any kind! She also likes pasta and cheese. We are still trying to get her to eat more veggies. We have been having lots of fun this summer playing outside in her baby pool or with her new water table! Also, Neal took her outside the other day and did some finger paint art for Mommy and then washed her off in the pool, so cute! We also go on walks in the morning or evening if it is cool enough. At daycare, she has transitioned to the toddler room, they do lots of activities and she is having so much fun! She is always so tired when we pick her up. They have water days and do lots of crafts. She also only takes one long nap there and sleeps on a little mini cot! She does such a good job - they were going to transition her slowly but she went her first day and never came back to the infant room because she did so well! It makes me so happy that she is so adaptable and able to "go with the flow" and try new things! It is just part of her personality which I love. Blakely is the sweetest, most loving, curious, smart, beautiful, funny, independent yet snuggly, clever, cheerful and adorable 1 year old ever! We love her so much!

-Dr. & Mrs.