Happy First Birthday Adelaide Penelope!

July 23, 2013

Adelaide Penelope,

July 23rd is a day that will forever be etched in my memory. Your Birth Day one year ago today was one of the best days of my life. I still remember the overwhelming joy I felt as the doctor laid you on my tummy for the first time. I just kept telling you how beautiful you are and how much I love you. And really, I've just kept doing that for the past year. You are so beautiful. And I love you so much.

Here are some of your favorites on your first birthday:

Putting things inside. You are a great helper. When it's time to clean up, I hand you your toys, and you are more than happy to put each toy in the toy box, one by one, by one.

Sometimes we put you inside, too!

Opening and closing. Doors, mostly. We finally got all the important cabinets and drawers baby-proofed, but that doesn't stop you from pulling them out until they catch on the baby latch, and then pushing them back in as hard as you can. I'm amazed at how few times you have slammed your fingers (and toes) in various doors. You also love closing big doors. Sometimes you will close the door to your bedroom while I am in the bathroom, and then you will sit behind the door to your bedroom so I'm locked out. Stinker!

Reading aloud to yourself. When you aren't busy closing the door to your bedroom, you will often occupy yourself by your bookshelf. I've often left you in your room while I put laundry away or clean the bathroom nearby, and every time I pop my head in to check on you, you have a book open and are chattering away, telling your story with the turn of each page.

Brushing your teeth. Or rather, your tooth! You have one lonesome tooth that is just barely peeking out of your gums. But we are earnestly brushing that one tooth each and every day in hopes of getting more. You get so excited when I pull your toothbrush that you immediately say "Ahhhhhh!" and open your mouth wide for me to stick the toothbrush in. Your favorite is sucking on the toothbrush, but we get a couple of brushes on your tooth and your tongue.

Things with straps/handles. At your cousin's birthday party, you got a sand pail, and it quickly became your favorite toy. Since your main method of moving is the scoot, you have two free hands to carry your toys around the house. You LOVE holding the handle of the pail and scooting from room to room. Especially after you fill it with your toys.

Blankie. Without our realizing it, you got attached to a blankie. It began with our habit of putting a lightweight blanket in your crib with you to sleep because you liked covering your eyes with it to block out the light and sound. One day, I noticed that instead of covering your eyes with the blanket, you grabbed it in a hug and rolled over to sleep. And now it's your blankie. I never had a security blanket. I think it's cute that you do.

Feeding yourself. We have mostly transitioned away from pureed foods. Not because you have so many teeth that you are able to chew regular food. Just because you like to feed yourself. So now it's chopping foods into swallowable sized pieces. You love cantaloupe. And peas. And watermelon. And sweet potatoes. And yogurt (but I still feed you the yogurt with a spoon). You'll eat almost anything. But if it's a favorite, you will eat LOTS and LOTS. In those times, I wonder where you are putting it all.

On Saturday, we had a Laidey Bug themed party with our family to celebrate your life. But to me, every day is a celebration of your life. It's hard to remember life without you. I am honored to call you my daughter.

One week old. One year old!

Happy first birthday, Laidey Bug!

Love,
Mama

Happy Eleven Months Adelaide Penelope

....I actually had this post finished on time, but I wanted to add a picture of my nephew. Then, I left my camera at my sister's house before I could upload my pictures. So, it's belated, but I will post it before Adelaide's birthday, TOMORRROW!

June 23, 2013

Dear Adelaide,

Wow! 11 Months. 31 more days, and you won't be a baby anymore. Toddlerhood is right around the corner. And we have been enjoying every last moment of your precious babyhood.

So now you scoot. You have scooted for over  a month, but now you scoot with purpose. You have a rhythm, and when you know what you want, you scoot double-time to get to it. Like the dog dish. And the open refrigerator door. I like your spunk. You have determination. A colleague of mine gave you a onesie with a quote from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream that says, "Though she be little, she is fierce." I think it sums you up perfectly.

Not only do you scoot, you've also learned how to sit up from a lying down position. Which means nothing stops you from moving. You fall over, and no sooner have you caught yourself and used those ab muscles to lift yourself up to a sitting position, with a little help from your arm. Definitely not the easiest way to sit up, but it works for you. And you are going to have some super strong abs and legs.

Summertime is in full swing, and I laugh at my fears that we might get bored this summer. We haven't stopped. As I told your granny this past weekend, the only thing we have trouble fitting in is your naps. So you've missed quite a few. We are testing your sleep boundaries, and while you have managed exceptionally well, there have been some pitifully cute moments where you want to sleep so badly, but won't allow yourself to sleep in public.

So what exactly have we been up to this summer? Well, we began the summer with a trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house to renovate their kitchen.

Cooling off with Dad while he takes a break

Enjoying Grandma's backyard

We also made a trip back to Illinois just a week later to celebrate the end of a life well-lived by your Great-Grandma, who passed away at the age of 97!

During the in-between times, here in St. Louis, we have gone to Baby Bookworm time at the library, met friends at Hartford Coffee Company, taken daily walks with our pup Fitz, visited the animals at the zoo, and gone swimming with your Aunt Jessica. Just to name a few.

Swimming with Aunt Jessica

Soooo tired!

You are now the proud owner of one tooth poking through your gums, and another is on the way.

Both your daddy and I could not be more thrilled to see your love for reading blossoming. I love to have you sit in my lap (one of the few times you will actually sit still) and concentrate on each page as I read it aloud before you excitedly rush to turn to the next page and see what new adventures await as the story continues. I hope this is the beginning a lifelong friendship with books.

And best of all, you get to share the 23rd day of the month with a new baby cousin, who was born on June 23, exactly one month before your birthday. Welcome to the world, Jared Parker Davis!

And the countdown till your birthday begins...

Our hearts just burst with love for you, Adelaide Penelope!