the best first year.

Emma,

It's hard to believe you are now 12.5 months old! It seems like yesterday you were in my tummy twirling around like a sweet ballerina! I am going to take a moment to first tell you how much I love your sweet tender heart.  YOU, my dear, are the most gentle angel baby... you play lightly with (most) of your toys, you love to be loved by sawyer (your puppy), you dance to any type of music that's playing, and you smile at every "stranger" you meet.  I am so blessed to watch you gracefully entertain life around you each day. 

Now a few things mommy doesn't want to forget that you are doing at the moment... that I'm sure will change soon! (1) You have started what we like to call the "stinker face" I'm hoping to capture a good picture but for now... this is the best I have (See below)

 

 Your daddy and I think it's pretty funny, you now do it on command! You sniff while you make that silly face! (2) Another thing you are doing is crawling very quickly... WITH YOUR HEAD DUCKED DOWN!! We don't really know why you are doing this, pappy (my daddy) thinks you are protecting yourself. I think that you think it makes you go faster... either way it's funny.   (3)You have been learning how to say "S", in fact you say Pwees on occasion which makes your mommy VERY happy and proud! BUT the funny thing that I don't want to forget is that as you are practicing your "S's" you say... AHH sssssssssss - which also is a not so nice word.  When you are older mom and dad will admit that we chuckle, every time. (4) I'm pretty sure this is something that won't change back... BUT as soon as you learned to roll over, you have been a TUMMY SLEEPING baby, until this week.  You have begun to lie on your back... in fact, I can lay you in your crib and you will stay tucked in for hours until you roll over.  Honestly, this has been hard on mommy because it means you're growing up!

  

(5)This has been going on for a while... we keep assuming you are "cutting teeth" or just "trying new things" but you really like to make a VERY cheesy (adorable) smile... with an under-bite.

 

We are completely smitten with you and OUR LIVES SHOW IT! Our house has collected lots of fun fabulous toys... there are tons of little tiny socks... and the air is always filled with praise baby tunes.  The words you are saying: MAMA, DADA, DAH (dog), DUH (duck), MMIIWWLLL mimimi (milk), PWEES (please), HI (while waving), and @$$ (might as well count it!).  We're so proud that you started walking!! It's been so neat to watch you learn to use new muscles both physically and mentally while you make your sweet steps across the room... It reminds us and has really triggered a prayer nitch in that as you learn to walk with the Lord you are as driven and joyful as you are now learning to walk in the physical sense.  We are so excited for what's to come... 

Here's a few pics to leave you with!

(will have a Birthday Party post VERY soon!)