Madelyn: 1 Year Old...

 

Madelyn Joy is 1 year old and I can hardly believe it!  Where has the past year gone?!  I certainly feel as though time goes much quicker as I get older.  Despite rarely being away from Maddy this past year (never away from her overnight), I feel like her first year was the fastest of the three girls.

 

 Sweet Maddycakes, you are at such a FUN stage right now!  You are so interactive and social and seem to learn new things every day.  We have reached the pointing stage and I love it!  You point at everything, often followed by a grunt.  You are also so funny!  You hear the word "no" often these days, but usually laugh at us when we say it.  When we ask to take your picture, you tilt your head up and give us a super cheesy smile (showing all 4 of your teeth).

 

You are such an affectionate little girl.  You love to give kisses and love on your big sisters, often crawling over to them and laying your head down on their laps.  You also love to snuggle with me and daddy and love to be held and often beg us to pick you up.

 

 

You are SO happy and SO smiley!  It's easy to get you to smile or giggle!  You have the best belly laugh and you are so ticklish.  You have reached a shy stage around new people or those you don't see very often.  When talked to, you often give a little grin and tilt your head down and lean in to whoever is holding you.

You seem to be picking up on new things each day.  You love to stand and your balance is getting really good.  You also love to hold onto our hands and walk around.  You have become quite the climber and move so quickly!  You are starting to say things and can say Mama, Dada, Uh Uh (Uh Oh), and Boo (Balloon).  You have mastered drinking out of sippy cups (even the hard top ones), as you always test out any cup that is laying around (usually Avery's).  You are learning the purpose for certain objects and how to use them...brush your hair, where hairbows go, how to wipe your face with a towel, etc. 

You LOVE to dance!  Whenever you hear music, you start dancing.  You even know how to turn the CD player on to play your favorite songs (the VBS Weird Animals CD is your favorite).  You love to be outside and play where ever your sisters are...usually following them throughout the house.  You love baby dolls and stuffed animals.  You love to crawl under and in any small space you can find...the table, in baskets, the play tent, etc.  You also seem to be obsessed with your sisters' panties...you fish them out of the laundry baskets or their drawers and will usually crawl around with one in each hand (clean OR dirty).

 

You are becoming a great eater....you definitely have your food preferences though.  Some of your favorite foods are: blueberries, strawberries, corn, pizza, macaroni and cheese, goldfish, yogurt, applesauce and chicken nuggets.  You are still nursing three times a day, but we will soon introduce whole milk to your diet (hoping you take to it better than Avery did).

 

Our monthly photo shoot seemed to be a little challenging as you did not want to sit still.  Here are a few of the better ones (and a few that show your personality).

 

 

Happy 1st Birthday, sweet Madelyn!