My One Year Old

Annika will be a year old next week. I can hardly believe it!

She has made this an amazing year for me and her daddy - and I know that it is only going to get better!

Being at home with her full time is so rewarding - I get to see first hand all of the new things she learns and says. Her latest favorite thing to do is stick out her tongue, but just a little bit, and just hang out like that! Its adorable! She is cruising like a champ, crawling, pulling up, walking [with assistance] just plain loves to have fun. She discovered the stairs recently and loves to climb them. Playing peek-a-boo is also a favorite past time of hers. And lets not forget her best friend Abby! She loves giving Abby 'love taps' and our wonderful dog loves receiving them. She is so good with our baby - what a blessing!

Annika is also quite the social butterfly. Loves to wave goodbye at just about anyone, but has to be in the mood for it! Anytime we go out she makes friends instantly. Of course, she loves to talk - even if that means making sounds at the top of her lungs at no one in particular. Sometimes I'll watch her playing and she'll talk to herself as she is discovering a new way to play with an old toy. Those are the best moments - she's in her own little world and I have the privilege of being here to observe.

Annika also is very stubborn and wants things HER way. She lets us know the INSTANT something isn't to her liking. For example, as she climbs our fireplace hearth and I precede to pull her down she'll throw a fit. But I can easily distract her with another toy. I guess you could say that Annika wears her emotions on her sleeve - she cries when she's unhappy, and squeals in delight when she's excited about something.

She is still a good eater and loves to eat with her hands. She's discovering that she can feed herself with a spoon and sometimes even gets the spoon in her mouth. That makes her smile. Learning anything new makes her smile.

We'll be spending her 'birthday' at her great grandma and great grandpa's house in Flat Rock, NC this year. I'm hoping to make some cupcakes for the occasion. This will also be her 1st real christmas and hannukah.

Looking forward to our next year with Annika - it's sure to be another great one!