Natalie at One Year

Natalie turned 12 months old on July 17, 2015!

In the last month before turning one, Natalie:

• Continues to be on the move!  Natalie began walking full-time right on July 4.  Henry took his first steps that day, and Natalie began walking only that day--Independence Day, indeed!

• Says several words: RoRo (Rowan), ba (bottle) baba (baby doll). haa (hi!).  They say girls are more verbal than boys early on, and that has proven true for us.

• Can wave (backwards), do the motions for "wheels on the bus," and clap!

• Loves to dance and sing.  She "sings" along when you sing her a song and it might be the most adorable thing ever.

• Is not a picky eater and will eat most of what you put in front of her.  That said, fruit is her favorite.  She loves blueberries, strawberries, peaches, oranges, etc.  She also finally will eat fruit baby food pouches.

• Still drinks from a bottle, and while she will drink from a sippy cup, she is a comfort feeder and I don't see her giving up the bottle at naptime or bedtime any time soon.  I nurse her now only at night and when she wakes up at night.  But those nightime wakings need to end, so I am cutting off the nursing then.  It will be a battle, I'm sure, but Natalie needs to learn better nightime sleep habits!

• Climbs up the stairs at any available opportunity.  She also can get off of the couch by herself.

• Still only has 4 teeth!

• I will update once she has her checkup, but I am guessing that Natalie weighs 23 pounds.  She is solid.  She wears 12-18 month or 18 month clothes.

• Is totally in love with her brother.  Henry hung the moon as far as Natalie is concerned.  If only he felt the same way ;-)  But she doesn't hold a grudge when he pushes her or knocks her over when she goes after a toy of his.  She will hold her own soon enough.  In fact, she is a hair puller (and has a mighty strong grip!) and unfortunately thinks it's hilarious to bite.  She has left marks on my shoulder and leg.  She's never done this to Henry, and she isn't doing it to be mean, but I am majorly discouraging it.

• Is just the sweetest.  She loves to snuggle and to be held.  When I get home from work, she basically wants me, and only me, to hold her until bedtime.  I love it, because I miss her during the day.

A few parting photos: