A Wonderful One-year-old

My girl turned one today. I had planned to make her a fancy-schmancy movie/slideshow all about her life so far. However, each time I sat down at the computer to do it, she would cry. She doesn’t like it when I get on the computer because it means I don’t play with her. After a few attempts, I realized that she would probably prefer the extra play time over a slideshow. So, I didn’t make it. I do think it would be fun to have a movie collage of each year of her life, so I think I will still try to make it when I get a chance. Maybe I'll just have to work on it when she's in bed. She’s in bed right now… my little one-year-old. I love her so much. I just think she’s the most amazing little creature on earth. I wish everyone could know her like I do. And yet, with how much she changes each day, sometimes I wonder how well I even know her. I’m definitely still learning about her more and more. Here’s what I know so far…

Brooklyn is quite indifferent to a lot of things. She does not have a favorite blanket, binky or toy. She doesn’t even seem particularly attached to her parents, although we’re pretty much the only friends she’s got. Maybe she’s just independent. However, she LOVES to interact and play. Her favorite game is Hide & Seek. We hide and she seeks, of course.

She smiles at strangers, even if she’s in a bad mood. She can be cranky and whiney in the grocery store and when somebody comes around the corner, she laughs and smiles. She’s always calling attention to herself this way. Even here in Utah, where there are about 800 children for every adult, she gets people to notice her with that big 8-tooth grin.

She is certainly an airline baby and had been on 14 flights by the time she was 9 months old. The seven states she has been to include Utah, California, New York, Florida, Oregon, Nevada, & Arizona, in that order.

Some of her favorite foods include string cheese, raisins, & yogurt. She can’t walk yet, but she has started to be able to stand for a few seconds on her own before crouching down. It shouldn’t be too much longer before she learns how to get around on her own two feet. In the meantime, she’s the fastest crawler on the block.

She is a big girl – the 95th percentile for height and 90th for weight. She is starting to get quite a bit of hair, and it has just a slight curl at the ends. I noticed in the sun the other day that she’s got quite prominent red and blonde highlights. What a beauty.

She does “talk” quite a bit. She likes to ride in the car and tell us stories in her made-up language. She even knows a few words of English. Dada, hello, wow, and oh are her most common words. However, she has also said ball, lettuce, please, cake, and a few other things she has heard us say (like calling Mama “babe”… lol).

She has recently started dancing to anything musical, including theme songs and cell phone rings. She notices music where I don’t and just starts grooving. Her favorite move is to put her arms out to the side and twist her body.

Lately, she has started giving kisses. Like I said, she is very independent and doesn’t get cuddly too often. But, when she is particularly pleased with you, she will look you right in the eye, climb up your chest, and very deliberately plant a smooch on your lips. I think the fact that she doesn’t do it very often makes it that much more special when she does.

Man, I can’t believe it’s been a year since she first lit up our home… and I also can’t believe it’s been ONLY a year since I’ve known her. She is the biggest miracle I have ever witnessed and I am so glad she is ours. What a BLESSING to have this little one forever. Now if only she could stay little…

October 12, 2007

October 12, 2008