1st and 235th

Hannah Beth you are ONE year old today! How can a year possibly go by so very fast? I blink and another moment has passed, but oh how fun it has been to watch you grow this past year.

So what is the 235th for you may ask? Well, that is how old the Marine Corps is today. That's right. Our sweet bundle of a baby girl wrapped in pink was born on the same day the Marine Corps was established in a Tavern in Philadelphia. Only seems fitting since your Daddy is one of the few and the proud. We got SEVERAL "Oorah" messages from all our USMC friends the day you made your arrival.

So now that you are a big ONE year old, what are you up to these days.

Let's see!

You are pulling up on EVERYTHING and you love to play play play! If I pick you up off the floor while you are in the middle of something, you fuss and yell. I think you are going to have an opinion on all things and you will definitely let us know how you feel. You will stand in your pack n play and just jibber jabber while pointing at things around the room. It seems like you are giving us all a speech about how things should be.

You have four teeth now, two on the top and two on the bottom. I have given you pieces of cheese, peas, fruit puffs, bread, yogurt melts, and pieces of banana. You have loved all of them, but you still really like baby food. I have tried stage 3 foods with you and so far so good.

You love to wave and say "Hi" to everyone. Every time a car passes while we are playing out side, you smile and wave. You are becoming quite the social butterfly and just love watching all the big kids play. You even mimic Mama and pretend you are on the phone by putting your hand up against your ear and chatting.

When it is time for a nap or bedtime, you lay your head on my shoulder and say "Ni Ni" to me and anyone who is around. I cuddle you up and we go rock in your chair. You have started to give hugs and love to give kisses. You pucker your lips up and make the "MMMMMMM Ah" sound when you go in for a kiss. So so sweet.

You are picking up on more signs now, which is so helpful when you try to communicate with us. "All Done", "milk", and "more" are standard signs that you can do, and we are working hard on the signs for "please" and "down".

You still love for me to sing to you and it always seems to calm you down. "The Wheels on the Bus" is a favorite as well as "Jesus Loves Me". You will sit and let me rock you forever while I sing and read to you. Some of my favorite times of the day are rocking you in your room.

Hannah Beth you bring such joy to our lives as this family of 5. You are such a sweet blessing and can't wait to watch you grow this next year. We love you to pieces baby girl!

Happy 1st Birthday.