Tuesday, January 22, 2013

One Year: The Comings and Goings of My Girl

As a Momma, I always swear that I will remember each of these precious moments as they are passing. 

But. 

You know what?

It's hard to remember each and every detail. Case in point: I know my son started walking around 10.5 months and starting saying single words shortly thereafter, but the actual details of the other activities and abilities he was engaging in are hazy. 

So. 

I want to document, honestly more for myself so I can reflect on this down the road, when the details are again hazy, exactly what my little Raleigh is doing now that she is the ripe ol' age of 1 year. 

Thus, the comings and goings of Miss Raleigh Jane at 1 year:
  • Raleigh weighed 19 pounds, 3 ounces (20th percentile) and was 31 inches tall (95th percentile) at her one-year well check. Long and lean? Looks like it. This means she has gained 11 pounds, 3 ounces since birth and has grown 10 inches. And I promise--this girl can eat! Sometimes she will out-eat her brother, and that's saying something!
  • Raleigh started walking right around 11 months. Her initially wobbly steps are wobbly no more. In fact, I swear this child is almost running half the time. She loves chasing after her big brother and is CONSTANTLY on the move. One of her activities of choice these days? Climbing. Up stairs. On couches. Up slides. On stools. You name it, she'll climb it. And let me tell you, there is nothing that makes a momma's heart skip a beat more quickly than turning around after 2 seconds and seeing your toddler standing tall on the couch, with a huge smile on her face as the sweetest giggle escapes her lips. Seriously. I wouldn't be surprised if I have a stomach ulcer from all the lets-keep-momma-on-her-tip-top-toes tricks my two little teamsters orchestrate each day.
  • Raleigh looooooves talking. Loves it. In addition to "mama" and "dada," her current vocabulary includes Banks (which, truthfully, sounds like "Bay"), Coop (our dog, which, honestly, sounds like "Boop," which is exactly how Banks used to say it!), baby, bye-bye, up, dog, uh-oh, milk, cup, hat, shoes, and ball (and maybe a couple other words that aren't coming to mind right now?). She will also make the animal sounds for cow, snake, monkey, bear, and dog. And she has this to.die.for. giggle, in which her entire face lights up and she squeals at the top of her lungs. She knows her Daddy and Momma love it; so, she does it all the time. Swoon.
  • As of two days ago, Raleigh is no longer breastfed. She is a good little eater (with three big meals and two to three smaller snacks throughout the day) and loves whole cow's milk. She uses either a sippy cup or straw cup for all of her milk consumption and loves to throw it on the floor when she's done. Her favorite foods include waffles, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, lasagna, Cheerios, and toddler "granola bars." Oh, and sweets. She is her Momma's daughter, after all.
  • Raleigh loves to do whatever her big brother is doing. Often, this means racing cars side-by-side as her brother zooms around the playroom. She is starting to learn golf, thanks to mimicking her big bro, and absolutely adores kicking around the soccer ball. Maybe she'll be an athlete? She also, as I mentioned, loves climbing on any and everything as well as swinging at the park and pushing her baby around in the stroller. 
  • Raleigh adores being around other babies her age. She gets so excited to see someone her size and is VERY affectionate. Not only with her Momma, Daddy, and brother, but also with  her buddies. It is the cutest thing to see her go up to her new friends and try to steal kisses. 
  • One of our favorite things Raleigh does right now is, after she or anyone else in the vicinity, finishes taking a sip of her/their drink, she will proudly say, "Ah!," as if to say, "Man, that was refreshing!" Especially appropriate after Momma or Daddy takes a swig of their adult beverage. She will also point to a few different body parts on command (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth, belly, head), although usually more on others than on herself.
  • Raleigh has four teeth: two on top, two on bottom, which we brush twice a day with a baby (i.e., finger) toothbrush, although we'll likely switch to a big girl toothbrush soon. She doesn't such her thumb, fingers, or paci. She will, on rare occasion (e.g., when bored during car trips), suck her toes. Gross. But also, quite flexible. And also, her Momma used to do this as a baby.
  • Raleigh's hair is sloooowly growing in. It looks like she'll be a blondie like her big brother. And right now, she has one single curl (that sometimes curls up into a ringlet!) in the back. Come on blonde curls!! 
  • Raleigh now, generally, takes just one nap, which has been averaging 90 minutes to 2 hours the last few days. She goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 pm and will usually sleep until 6:30 or 7:00 am.
  • Raleigh is truly the sweetest, happiest little lady I have ever been blessed, privileged, and lucky enough to know. I am so, so excited to see what Year 2 holds for my precious girl. It is hard to imagine my love for her could increase any more, but my heart continues to grow in love, exponentially, for both she and her brother, each day. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed. 

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