At my 12-month check-up, Dr. Sidell found that I’m at the 84th percentile for height and the 44th percentile for weight, so I’m getting taller and leaner all the time. I’m tall like a sunflower!

 

I’m quite athletic, resulting in lots of scrapes and bruises. I fell under the doctor’s table just before my shots. In Bellingham, I fell out of the trailer when banging on the screen door, and (to mom’s horror) tumbled down two stairs. I speedcrawl, or walk with my hands poised to brace the fall and my shoulders hunched up around my ears.

Sometimes I put my hands behind my back like a penguin. I’m practically running when mom and dad chase me.

I’m artistic, too. I often sing myself to sleep, and I hum like Grandpa. I’m building my vocabulary and say:

– “No, no, no, no, no,” when I mean yes
– “Pup” to show Grandma that I love Maggie
– “Uh oh” when I can’t resist being naughty
– “Hoot Hoot” (to answer mom’s question, “What sound does an owl make?”)
– “Muuuuuum” and “Dada” when hugging their legs

I’m oh-so-curious, exploring everything. Mommy says I have many skills.

I love water: splashing in the pool, swimming in the lake, showering outside, or drinking from the hose and puddles.

I climb everywhere: onto patio chairs, up step stools and ladders, into the stroller, and up the boat stairs.

I’m an expert button pusher, and can operate the washing machine, stereo, and fan. My curiosity has its price. I like to carry and drag things, and sometimes I lose track of them, so remote controls and phones go missing.

I squeal like crazy during my morning tickle.  I love to jump on the bed, or let Daddy toss me onto the fluffy down comforter or clobber me with a pillow. I have upside down time every day.

Daddy bought me a helmet and we go for bike rides around Capitola, with me in my chariot behind the cruiser. I spend the entire trip yanking on the helmet.

Exploring at Day Care is especially fun, now that I spend 2 days/week with so many friends. When I’m sad at drop off time, the kids come running to comfort me, petting my head and rubbing my back. I know Daddy peeks through a hole in the fence and watches me play. I’m no longer the baby there… there are kids younger than me. Here I am learning to brush my teeth.

Nap time at Day Care is hard though. The nap room has cots instead of cribs and it’s tough to fall asleep. Martha and Raeleen sit close by to help me relax, but my naps are brief and I’m wiped out those days.

At home, the bedtime routine is easy. Mommy gives me a bath, reads a book, tucks me into my sleeping sack, and gives me a bottle. She says goodnight to bunny, monkey, teddy, mouse, and me, and we sleep until 8am. Now that I sleep on my tummy, the bald spot on the back of my head is gone, and my curls are coming in nicely.

My backyard is great fun! I have everything I need: dirt, grass, pebbles, a swing, and plants.

I’ve been off formula since June… just having organic whole milk and juice (with a straw!). My favorite foods are peaches (slippery!), fig newtons (not the guts), and prosciutto (with sand).

I visited Grandma and Grandpa in Summerland, and went to Okanagan Lake every day with mom, dad, Uncle Terry, Auntie Alice, Tamiyana, and Alexa. Daddy swam like an alligator, with me on his back. And after mom lubed me up with sunscreen, I did a face plant into the sand.

It was fun seeing Auntie Gail and Doug too… I remind mommy of Uncle Tony, the way I squat and eat lemons. At Grandma W’s house, I made such a mess of her spaghetti that she had to give me a bath. Both Grandmas are coming to look after me in August… can’t wait to see them again!