Progress?

So much has changed in our house in the last month.

Squeaker is walking. Completely. No crawling. Check out her moves and the 37-year-old nightgown she's wearing. I think it was mine when I was a baby. Nana, do you remember it?



Squeaks is also using a utensil when she eats. And she has a bowl that suctions to the table because she throws anything not attached to the table on the floor. Between trying to eat with a spork and using the silicone "ramp" on the bowl as a catapult, there's way more airborne food at her end of the table (see spaghetti photo in Happy Birthday blog below).

Bean announced on Sunday that she wanted to wear big girl panties. Ever since, we've been in potty training. Which means we're in the bathroom up to 3-4 times an hour. She drinks A LOT. I'm so proud that she decided to do it on her own and has stuck with it.

We weren't really prepared for potty training. Bean still sleeps in a crib. The first night of potty training, she called us to get out of bed 4 times before she went to sleep. So we decided last night to take the front of her crib off. I don't know why they charge you extra for a convertible crib. With a screwdriver, husband quickly made a toddler bed for Bean. But we didn't consider how difficult it would be for Bean to sleep in the crib with about 10 stuffed animals and not fall out. "Thunk, wahhhh," we heard at about midnight. There are now pillows on the hard floor next to her bed.



Tonight, she's gotten out of bed 5 times. Several to go potty, once to "throw something away," and another time to find a stuffed animal who was already in her bed. I'm quickly understanding how her freedom is not always going to equate to more freedom for me. With the exit of cribs and diapers so goes our ability to contain her body and bodily functions.

Giant, giant, giant, giant head!

Squeaks had her 1 year checkup last Friday. She's in the 20th percentile for height, 30th for weight, and 75th for head circumference. Bean would say her head is "giant, giant, giant, giant."

We threw a big front yard party for Squeaks Friday evening. She enjoyed a dip in the kiddie pool, a ride on the Slip 'N Slide, hot dogs, good friends, and a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting.

Happy Birthday, Squeaks!

Squeaks, you're 1 year old today. How cliche is it to say that time flies?

A big part of what makes our lives magnificent, "you rock it" (as sister Bean would say). You are our sweet, throaty-laugh, almost redhead, jack'o teeth girl.

You have mad 1YO skills. You've abandoned the bottle & formula for a sippy cup and milk. No looking back!

You started walking just after 11 months and are now walking everywhere. Tonight you showed off to all the old folks at the Custard Station. You'd stumble a bit, bend over like you were going to catch yourself with your hands but then recover with surfer-like moves. And you gave your audience a toothy, proud smile after each save.

You like to eat. Sometimes. Like here. With spaghetti.



You're sitting in Bean's Tripp Trapp chair. We got you this suction cup bowl with a ramp that you use to push food up the bowl and into your mouth. Your favorite foods are eggs, blueberries, watermelon, chicken, okra, rojo raisins (that's what Bean calls Craisins) and spaghetti.

You're always up in the mix. All the older kids at ConnieLaura's (the sitters' house) get exasperated with you sitting on top of their table, knocking over their towers, stealing their cups, stealing their stuffed animals, stealing their blankets... "Squueeeeaaakkerrrrr!" they yell. You are undaunted by their protests.

We love you!


Birthday Prezzies from Opa & Nana
sweet, throaty-laugh, almost redhead, jack'o-tooth girl