Well it finally happened, we have a one year old. The past year has been quite a ride, and this is only just the beginning...
Hailey May,
You turned one. How did that happen? I swear it was just yesterday that you were a weekly fruit in my belly, counting down to make your presence. At One, you are a beautiful, healthy, strong and INDEPENDENT little girl. I love that about you. You are always busy. Busy putting blocks together, busy scooting your little booty as you crawl around the house, busy looking for that pacifier that we still haven't managed to take away from you yet.
You aren't quite walking on your own yet, no rush... your mama took about 16 months before she learned that trick and you are perfectly content getting around on your perpetually-dirt-stained knees. Although you do stand up with the aid of a chair or push toy.
You are careful. Seriously careful. You are sure to verify that there is ground below that little step before you cautiously climb down it. I am thankful for this, every day.
Eating is fun, you enjoy tons of foods (for now anyways). You are great at feeding yourself, which you only do with your left hand about 95% of the time. Maybe you're going to be a lefty like Daddy? You're very good at letting us know when dinner is over, based on the amount of food stuck to the wall that you threw it at. Thanks for that by the way ;-)
Milk. Oh my what a picky milk drinker you've always been. You had mom's milk for about 11 months, refusing anything previously frozen, any sort of formula and just about every bottle mom & dad have tried to give you, ya little stinker. Fortunately you adore cow's milk and drinking it from a straw!
Sleep, thank goodness you love it as much as mommy does. Down by 7pm in your crib, sleeping through the night, and up between 6:30 and 7am in the morning. That is, as long as you aren't teething.
Teething, oh lordy. You spoil us so much when you aren't popping teeth, that we aren't prepared for the nights you wake up hollering in pain from those dreaded incoming chompers. You have two adorable bottom teeth and you more recently cut all four top teeth at the same time. Poor girl. We do love your little teethy smile now though.
Talking. You want to do it so badly. You've made every hilarious babbling, cooing, gibberish sound known to man, sometimes even resembling words we know. And you get loud. I mean LOUD. We are in for an earful the day you start talking and bossing us around.
The jury is still out on exactly what color your hair is going to be. Your dad and I were complete toe heads as babies, but what little hair you have is this incredible brown-red-golden-blonde, so who knows! I think Grandma Betsy may have snuck some of that ginger red into your genes, which may explain part of that fantastic personality of yours. Either way, you refuse to wear any kind of hairband or clip on your head which is completely fine, as your adorable little attitude is accessory enough!
There are no words to adequately describe how much we love you. We can't wait to see what the world has in store for you, but more importantly... we can't wait to see what you have in store for the world.
Love,
Mamma & Dadda
