The Big OnE!

Sweet, sweet Elly...where has a year gone? It seems like just yesterday that I was waiting anxiously for the nurses to bring you to me. You were and are a dream come true...I had stopped imagining that I could have a baby girl to hold and love on. You captured all of our hearts the instant we saw you and you have added so much life and excitement and joy to our family. Your smile is constant, it is infectious and it is golden--it lights up your whole face. You make the best faces--from your constant desire to stick your tongue out as far as it will go, to your sweet nose "scrunches" to your excited, eyes wide-open "I'm so proud of myself" looks. You are as ornery as they come and I LOVE it--you have so much personality already. I love that you light up when you see any of us (Logan, Daddy or I), that you stop instantly if you hear Logan's or Daddy's voice and you search out where it came from. I love that you will only let me put you to bed at night without fussing. I love that you can play by yourself and have the BEST time doing it. I love how FAST you can get to Logan's room or Daddy's office if the door is open. I love that you will play with Logan or just sit back and watch what he's doing and then try to do it. I love your sweet voice saying "uh oh" and "up" and "moo" and "neigh" and "boo" and especially "mamamama." I love that you don't want to sit still, you want to move and move and move. I love how easily your feelings get hurt if you fall down or if your dinner is gone or if you have to be interrupted to change your diaper. I love that you love your baths and any and all water, that you will splash and play and cry when it is time to be done (with a bath or swimming.) I love that you cry in your car seat if Logan's not there beside you to hold your hand and make you giggle. You are so sweet, so cuddly and so perfect in every way for our family. I thank God for the miracle of you every moment of every day.

Some one year milestones and "sizes":
You can still stand up and let go, but you don't yet have a desire to walk
You got your second tooth yesterday and your top two teeth pushed through today
You repeat nearly every word we ask you to, but only when you want to
You LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to eat and drink your milk
You can climb the stairs with perfection and in the blink of an eye, but you make me insanely nervous
You wear size 6-12 months or 9 months
You wear size 2 shoes
You wear size 2 diapers
You sleep with 2 binkies (1 in your mouth and 1 to hold)
You sleep every night under your crocheted blanket from Mrs. Jessica
You wear size 12-18 month hats
You weigh 17 lbs. 11 oz.
You are 25 1/2 inches tall
You have 2 teeth
Your favorite toys are baby dolls, balls, Logan's cars, and books