Quick Update

Many thanks for all of your sweet thoughts and prayers of concern last week while Anna Claire was ill. I am happy to report that she is doing MUCH better. We have been fever free for FOUR days and she is slowly regaining stamina and a bit of an appetite. Yesterday she seemed to be happy and pain-free for the most part and had a good day playing and laughing. It is GREAT to hear her laugh again. Still napping more frequently than usual, but I think by next Monday we will be back on track! The past two nights she has slept ALL night, so that is also a good indication that she is feeling better and is resting comfortably.

1 Year Stats: 30.5 inches long and 20 1/2 lbs
(now we are about 19.5 lbs due to the illness and lack of appetite)

She is about 85% in height and 40% in weight and is growing beautifully. She now has 4 teeth (with a few more on the way) and her hair is getting thicker and longer all the time. She has mastered walking and rarely crawls or wants to hold my hand, although she still looks like a drunken sailor and has that frankenstein style with arms out and uneven legs. She says a few words including: Momma, Dadda, Ba-ba (bottle,) Ball, Bye-bye, Dog and lately Poppa - I think that is for you Poppy! This week she has been saying Gaaa, which I have concluded stands for Goldfish when she wants a snack. If I ask if she wants to read a book or have a drink of water she says "Uh-huh." Too funny! She can now distinguish certain books from others and kisses almost every page of every book these days. She loves to sit in her chair and watch Hi-5 or Backyardigans. She also adores her reflection in the mirror and makes an "mmmmmm" sound as she kisses herself over and over. She claps and attempts to yell "yay" which usually just ends up being a scream of excitement. She now tries to mimic sounds and words or actions. My favorite is that if you say "hello" she holds her hand up to her ear as if she is talking on the phone! She learned that one all on her own by watching us. Occasionally, if she is in a really snuggly mood she will share kisses with Mom and Dad - but rarely!

It is amazing how quickly she is learning and understanding what is happening around her. I love to watch her play and I am still amazed to see such a little thing walking around! This has been the best year of our lives and we cannot wait to see her grow... although I kinda wish she would slow down just a bit.

More birthday pictures to come - last week put us behind! Now that she is well again, I hope to offer her a cake this week. It is so not fair she was sick on her birthday!

Party Time!

Yesterday was the big birthday bash. We had a great time at home with LOTS of family and friends. Uncle Chris and Honey and Poppy spent the weekend at our house. We had a great time visiting and could not have pulled it off without their help! Anna Claire is quite the social butterfly and enjoyed her company. Many of her friends wore tutu's - so it was quite the festive, girly party. The cupcake party was a big hit and our little cupcake, well she is just the best! She is toddling around most of the time now and has figured out how to turn corners. I fear she will be running before Halloween! All of the kiddos played well during the party and enjoyed the ball pit. The rainy weather forced us indoors, but all in all it was still a great success. Our friends and family are WAY too generous... Anna Claire received all sorts of great toys, books and clothing. She did get a little shy when the time came to dig into her cake... she ended up on the floor squishing her toes in it and then proceeded to crawl all over me and frost me in pink icing! In the end she was in the bath and I was in a new outfit! After a good nap, we took Uncle Chris out to eat at a great Mexican restaurant where Anna Claire was serenaded by a mariachi band. She was fascinated! After dinner we came home and Anna Claire had a blast playing with all her new toys.

I found myself a little sad this evening as she cuddled up and fell asleep in my arms. This year has flown by and I know the days will only go by faster and faster. Tomorrow is Anna Claire's first birthday and the celebration will continue... albeit quietly, at home with Mommy and Daddy.

Here are some shots from the party... more to come tomorrow as we officially wish her a happy birthday!

Catching Up

Again, I apologize for the blogging hiatus, but after a very busy month at work and the usual excitement at home - we all have been quite busy! Anna Claire is into everything... really working on those climbing skills and can EASILY find her way to the top of the stairs. Thank goodness for those gates! She is really enjoying books lately and likes for me to read to her or even flip through the pages herself. She is mastering many skills and loves her toys. She is jabbering up a storm and both fortunately and unfortunately is working on her top, two, front teeth. Ouch. This has made for a very interesting week.... the past 72 hours specifically have been hard on her and all of us. I miss my happy, good-sleeping baby! I hate to see her suffering. Hurry up teeth! One of them is pretty much all the way through and the other one is getting there. I hope by this time next week we will have a little break and two front teeth!

A few early birthday presents have arrived and she is having a great time. Uncle Chris got her a chair that is just her size and she loves climbing in and out of it and relaxing to watch Hi-5 or Mickey Mouse. Still dancing up a storm as well! This week Brad hung a swing outside and she LOVES swinging. Of course the big news is that she has taken her first steps. She can go a pretty fair distance, but then chooses to sit and move into a crawl. Her preferred method of travel is still crawling, but she is walking longer and longer stretches. I think in another week or two she will be upright full time... still a little unsure of her new moves, but we just cannot believe that our little girl can walk! The birthday party is next weekend, so the preparations are in full swing. September 22nd will be here before we know it and Anna Claire will be ONE. Where has the time gone?

Here are some cute pics of our little monkey

First Steps

I know I have been the worst blogger ever as of late - sorry! Much to catch up on... but first thing first!

I got off work just a little earlier than normal today and went to pick Anna Claire up so we could enjoy some time extra together. I am glad I did!!! She has been a little more brave lately about taking steps on her own, but all the sudden out of no where I looked up to see her walk almost all the way across the den! She just decided to take off and has walked down our front hallway several times this afternoon! I took a short video and will have more very soon!

I cannot believe it.