Jayna at 12 months

I don't really have anything specific to say. Jayna will be 1 tomorrow. I'm just not sure how I feel about it. Emotions are running on high...

She is so smart. I know that every mom says this about her child, but she really is. It is just amazing how quickly she's picking things up these days. She hears a word 3 or 4 times and understands it. She is beginning to imitate sounds more. She sings. She can make an "L" sound (thanks, Elmo!) as well as d, m, n, b, p, t, s, and k. And she's learning to ask for things also. Very encouraging. Makes me think I'm doing something right...if not by teaching her myself then by surrounding her by people who are a great help in her development. I can't take ALL the credit!!

She will be walking any day now. Actually she can walk, but she is still just a little too scared to just do it all the time. The most steps she's taken thus far is about 20. And then she loses her balance or gets scared and sits down. Pretty cute.

She's growing like a weed and regularly refuses food now. She is quickly developing food likes and dislikes. Something that she throws on the floor today she may eat tomorrow and vice versa. She LOVES noodles, peaches, rice, bananas, prunes and cheese...but not everyday. Somedays she will throw all of those things on the floor and eat broccoli and dried apricots. Goldfish are a new snack favorite. I'll say, "you want a fishy?" and she'll crawl into the kitchen and sit by the island.

She loves Sesame Street, mainly for the music. She likes Rosita, Elmo and Telly the best...mostly in that order. She will dance to anything that sounds remotely like music. She will sing her own tune to anything that sounds remotely like music. When Elmo's World comes on, she'll sing, "la la la...dat's..." and dance around. She's very cute.

She helps dress and undress herself now. I'll tell her it's bathtime and she'll crawl into the bathroom and try to take off her shirt. She also knows that her diaper needs to come off before bathtime too. She helps put on her pajamas and even brushes her own teeth and hair. Of course I have to do it over again, but it's still a step in the right direction. She knows the hair brush brushes her hair and the toothbrush goes in her mouth.

She waves bye-bye and hello.

She is very cuddly now. This is new. She will very frequently crawl over to me and lie down on my leg. She'll also lay her head down on my shoulder when I hold her. She loves to lie on the floor with a pillow under her head...and for Chris or me to lie down next to her. She'll even take her blanket and lie down next to Ollie. And he is just ecstatic about it!!

She is attached to a blanket. She sleeps with it and tries to drag it with her wherever she goes. We don't let her take it everywhere...it pretty much stays in the house and sometimes in the car. She doesn't throw a fit when we don't let her take it. She okay with leaving it...but NOT for bedtime!!

Her new favorite activity is throwing dog toys in the dog food and water. ANNOYING...and messy. She plays basketball with tennis balls and Ollie's water bowl. Yuck. And she thinks this is the funniest thing that can ever occur.

She stopped using her pacifier almost 3 months ago. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned that.

She drinks whole milk now. NO MORE FORMULA!! HOORAY!! We are, however, having a problem getting her to drink milk out of a sippy cup. She just refuses. This will be a long and rough battle, I'm sure.

She LOVES the outdoors...rain or shine, cool or HOT. It can be 95 degrees and she doesn't care. She sometimes cries to go out. Not just to swing, but just to sit in the grass on a blanket and play. She loves to pick grass and flowers and leaves. She marvels in nature...it's very refreshing.

She's growing up so quickly and I'm not sure what to do. I suppose I should keep taking photos and enjoying every minute I spend with her. She makes me smile, laugh, sigh, cry and she tests my patience. I love her more than I ever knew possible.

Pictures after the weekend...