Today, you are twelve months old. A year ago yesterday, your father and I got up at the crack of dawn to eat pancakes at the Bob Evans near our condo in Oakton. It was a Friday, and we drove through the just-waking neighborhoods, near the highways beginning to feel the weight of the morning rush hour, to the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington. Their computers were down, and they weren't expecting us, even though we'd pre-registered and my doctor's office had made an appointment. We got settled in, and I put on a hospital gown, and we waited. My doctor came in to induce labor, and we waited some more. Finally, at 4:20am the next day, you came into the world.
This past year has been a roller coaster. And you know how much I love roller coasters. We've moved from that condo in Oakton to a house that your daddy built for us in Falls Church. I finished school, and graduated. We were all sick, a couple of times. We went to the doctor a lot, and took your dad to the hospital twice in one month. The second time, he had to have surgery. Two of our friends also had babies, and another has one on the way. A couple of our friends have babies a little older than you, and we talked about similarities and differences, passed on ideas that worked and gave heartwrenching testimonials of things that failed.
You are so close to walking, it's amazing. You take two or three steps on your own, then stop, realize what you're doing, and sit down to crawl. You love baby dolls, and you hold them to your chest, rocking and crooning, and pat them on the back, just like a little mother does. You love to turn the pages of your board books, chewing on them as you go, but don't like to sit still long enough for someone to actually read the words on the page. Your favorite time is still the bath, and your dad and I are starting you in swimming lessons on Tuesday evenings in June.
We go out to eat a lot, and you are so good. You don't really like being put in the highchair, but you love to look at all of the people and snack on whatever is on our plates. You eat tortilla chips like you're... well... related to me! You also like to eat turkey, vienna sausages and yogurt. You love strawberries, Saltines and Goldfish crackers. We've come a long way since those sweet potato days.
You wave at everyone, even passing cars. You say 'Haaaa!' which I think means 'Hi!', and for awhile you even called everything a hat and we were so sure it was your first word. You prefer sitting in a shopping cart to sitting in your stroller, and now you smile at most everyone. You are starting to perfect your toddler whine, though. And I already know the 'Meeeeem' screech means you want something NOW.
Happy birthday, baby.Love,
Mama
30 1/2 inches tall, 24 pounds, 1 ounce.
