One...

To my sweet Amelia - someday if you ever look back on these things I have written, I hope want you to know without a doubt that you were adored in every possible way.  There may not be monthly updates because, well, there are three of you that need mama a lot right now, but you, lucky girl, have spent your first year being doted on by mama, daddy, and two big sisters.

This first year of your life has gone by in a flash. You have been such a delightful baby - loving, easy to take places, happy, and adaptable!  You have been my little buddy this year - taking the big girls to things, going to the pool, running errands - we have spend very little time apart.  Mama might get up to feed you in the night, but it is your DADDY that you are absolutely crazy about these days.  You just light up when you are with him, and he feels the same about you, of course.

We call you Amelia, Millie, and Millie Bug.  Charlotte calls you Mia Bug.  You respond to all of those names!

Yes, you have a mohawk.  No, random stranger in the grocery store, we did not cut it that way.  Really though, we hear comments about your adorable hair daily.  We think it is pretty cute, and can't wait to see what color it ends up being.  Right now, it looks strawberry blonde in the sunlight.

You crawl, cruise, climb, and take a few steps here and there.  Most of the day, you spend either trying to keep up with your sisters (with they truly do love) or on my hip.  We think you are so bright and funny.  Last week at the beach, you taught yourself to bear crawl backwards down the sloped shoreline so that you could get to the ocean without tumbling over.  You loved the ocean and the sand!



Favorite activities: swinging, water of any kind (bath, pool, ocean), emptying out baskets of toys, opening cabinets, having your sisters in your crib with you, feeding yourself, trying to walk, pulling clothes out of the dryer, and stealing big girl toys that are too small for you.

Favorite foods: strawberries, turkey, green beans, yogurt, goldfish, chicken, broccoli, scrambled eggs, and more cheese

Words: Dada, Nana, Granddad, Baba (Annabelle), Uh Oh, and Hello.  Notice - no "Mama"- you have maybe said something kind of like mama twice...usually I am just "dada", too.  You also screech.  LOUD. A LOT.  I think you will have no trouble finding your voice in this house!  I love that!



We are working really hard on getting you to sleep all night.  Hopefully that will happen soon. You take one nap most days and really prefer being rocked to sleep which is a really special time for us. It might also be the only time you are still.  You don't mind car rides or being in your stroller, but you love to be free to explore.

You are so very loved.  All of our lives are so much more wonderful because we have you - what a blessing you have been, baby girl. Happy 1st Birthday, Amelia!