She'll always be a baby to me.

That's it. She's one. It's so bittersweet. On the one hand, I'm amazed at how far she has come and excited to see what the next 12 months will bring and the 12 after that and the 12 after that... On the other, I still want her to be my little baby! I'm sure every other mother in the world has had similar thoughts around this time. It's not unique but it is honest.

Evelynn goes to the doctor on Thursday for her One Year check up and shots. So here is this month's update minus the height/weight stats.

Oh MY but she has made strides intellectually this month! We've known she was taking it all in since the moment she was born with her eyes wide open. But now those little wheels are just turning and turning. She is able to understand almost everything we say and ask of her, but she doesn't always choose to obey. If I ask her if she needs a dry diaper she will answer me by going to her bedroom door.  If she drops an object I can tell her to pick it up and she will go back for it. She follows me when asked. Holds my hand when asked. Lays back on her changing table when asked. She knows the names of objects and will deliver the "Ball" or "book" to us. If we go outside to her swingset I can ask her if she wants to swing or slide and she will run to the one she wants. And that doesn't include the cute little things we've taught her to do, I'll get to those in a minute.

Her signing is going really well. She can sign and understand the meaning of:
Mommy and Daddy- Although she is capable of doing the sign for "Mommy" she gives the sign for "Daddy" and means either one or both of us.
All Done
More
Hello
Bye-Bye
You- Meaning herself. It's not real ASL but she started patting her chest and tummy when we say "You" and it stuck.

She is learning the signs for: Swing, Ball, Wet, Dry, Diaper, Bubbles, and Book

She also gives cuddles and kisses and just Saturday she finally learned to blow kisses. So far it's only been to boys. Are we in for it or what?!  She also waves one or both arms in the air to dance when music comes on.

Okay, cutesy stuff. All parents teach their kids silly cutesy routines right?  I don't know how it began but months ago we started singing Evie the "Naked Baby" song when we got her undressed for bath time. It goes like this, "Naked Baby, Naked Baby, Woo, Woo, Woo! Naked Baby WHO?! Naked Baby YOU!" We all dance to this. Don't Judge. Anyway, now when we say, "Naked Baby WHO?!" Evie replies by patting her chest and tummy. And Mommy and Daddy dissolve into giggles.   Along the same lines, I can ask Evie, "Evie, Who is my sweetheart?" And she'll reply by patting her chest and tummy. I say, "That's Right! You're my sweetheart! Who else is my sweetheart?" And she does the sign for Daddy.

Evelynn loves playing peek a boo. One of her favorite times to play is on her swing set. She climbs the "rock" wall. (Oh yes, she can climb it on her own). Then crawls (she quickly learned she had to duck under the beam) to the slide. She knows she has to go down feet first so she arranges herself and gets all ready to go. When we get in position to catch her she abruptly changes course and crawls to the ladder. Naturally, I run to the ladder to keep her from falling off. When I get there she giggles and crawls into the fort to the "rock" wall. I then have to run all the way around the set to make sure she doesn't fall off that end. This is immensely funny to her. She likes to peek between the slats and around the corners to catch you. This also works peering around corners and through windows.

One of her favorite things this month is shoes. When she's barefoot she'll find a shoe and try to put it on.  Another treasure is Bunny. It is quickly becoming her take-everywhere-lovey.  She never goes to sleep without it and gives it way more hugs and kisses than the rest of her stuffies.

 Her other bed time quirk has to do with satin edged blankies. There's not one that she favors more than another. It just has to be a blanket with satin edges. As she falling asleep she'll pull the corner up from around her toes and then rub the palm of her hand back and forth along the satin edge until she falls asleep.

Her taste in food hasn't changed much lately. She still loves bananas and other sweet fruits. She recently tried watermelon and liked it well enough. Cheese and fish are still favorites too. I cut up a fresh pineapple for her birthday party and that has been a big hit as well. She's down to only a bedtime bottle and it's half organic whole milk with DHA and half formula. I started trying to give her a little milk in the morning too with limited success.  She can drink out of a sippy cup sized straw now, but hasn't gotten the hang of take out cups yet. This is probably because she gets such little opportunity to practice, as we rarely eat out anymore.

Evelynn did very well at her first birthday party. It was mostly family and familiar faces but there were a few people she hadn't seen in a very long time (on her scale). It took her a little bit to get used to everyone but once she did she played nicely. She really wasn't interested in opening her presents but enjoyed playing with them once I opened them for her.

I was expecting a big cake smashing but instead she very delicate pulled all the frosting off and left the cake intact and untouched until her Grammy took a fork to it. Then she still left the cake alone and continued with frosting until she reached sugar coma stage.

Her actual birthday was spent having her portrait taken at Bishop's, running errands, playing outside, and inside and going to swimming lessons.  Here are a few pictures I took today. Be looking for the amazing shots from Bishop's in about two weeks. They always do a fantastic job and I can't wait to see what they came up with.

Happy Birthday to my silly, sweet, smart and incredible daughter. No matter how old you get, you'll always be that tiny little baby I met one year ago today.