My First Year!

What a year this has been.... I was born way too early and scared my families by having to stay in the hospital for almost 2 months. I was very small but very healthy especially for being so premature. I had a few issues with reflux but that disappeared when I hit what was to have been my birth date. Although, I still had a tendency to take too much air in and Mommy had to go through almost every brand of bottle out there until she found the one that worked best for me.

I went to the pub for the first time when I was only 8 weeks old. I loved bagpipes and dancing right from the start. I met the first of my extended family and learnt what a large family I had become a part of. They welcomed "the Princess of Dunedin" and to this day I am being given surprise gifts from family and friends.

In my first weeks home I went to several highland games festivals and more Celtic and music festivals as the months progressed. I always have fun and meet many people. There is no way that I am going to be a shy child with my active social life.

I went camping for the first time and enjoyed the cold of the tent much more than Mommy did. As a matter of fact, my first teeth came through and I pulled myself up to standing for the first time while at Magnolia Festival camping.

For a baby that absolutely despised "tummy-time" I am crawling everywhere now. It was a sure thing that I was going to skip crawling and go right to walking and quickly running around. I surprised them all! I crawl wherever I can go and am constantly on my tummy including sleeping. I want to walk but my balance is not the greatest so I have a tendency to fall. I adore holding hands with Mommy and walking around though. I will let go one of these days soon and then watch out as it's off to the races we go.....

Talking is a blast. I love discovering the new noises I can make. Squealing at the puppies is the absolute best. I think the "pretty baby" in my pictures is just the cutest and smile with glee at her. Mommy and Daddy doing "raspberries" on my belly just makes me giggle like mad. And, I love when Mommy uses me as weight and does body presses with me over her head giving me kisses each time she brings me down. I have said "mama" for several months and "dada" is right around the corner. Daddy heard me say it yesterday but I'm stubborn and won't say it again until I want to. I know what words mean "bottle", "dinner", "cracker", "puppies", "bath" but I can't quite say them as of yet.

Baths are fun now too! I get to sit in the tub and play with toys. Splashing water and making bubbles is soooo much fun!

Food! Now, that's a great thing. I adore discovering new flavors and textures. I actually took a piece of romaine lettuce off Mommy's plate just last week and crunched on it. Corn, Beans, and Carrots are probably some of my favorites. I also like any of the little Gerber snacks or animal crackers! Actually, anything I can squish between my fingers and make a mess with is my idea of food. Who needs the spoon!...Fingers are so much better.

My first year has been a year of discovery and firsts....I know this next year is going to bring even more learning and firsts.....I hope I don't scare Mommy and Daddy too much!