Annie Turns One

My sweet little Annie,


You are an amazing little girl.  You kept us up for about three hours the other night and that wasn't amazing.  But other than that little misstep, we are constantly amazed at how sweet and easygoing you are.  Oh, you did pull more than a few strands of your sister's hair out yesterday, but to be fair, she had taken a Cinderella doll from you.  I'm sure there's more of that to come.  Still, overall, you have your daddy's sweet and patient nature.  You are almost always smiling or just seconds away from a smile.  While we can't wait to see how that will translate as you grow up, we are soaking up every bit of it right now.  

Tomorrow is your 1st birthday party and I'm so excited about it.  Unlike McKenzie, who didn't have much of anything sweet til her 1st birthday, you have tasted the likes of ice cream.  And marshmallows. You LOVE marshmallows.  Just this week, you have been crawling (because even though you can take steps, you prefer to drop to your knees and crawl) to the pantry, waiting for someone to open the door and then scanning the shelves until your eyes land on the prize: MARSHMALLOWS! I plan to make your birthday cake for tomorrow, but as I type this, I'm thinking that running to the store for a new bag of marshmallows would probably be your preference.  Doesn't matter.  You will be so excited to dig into your special birthday cupcake!    

As your have approached the year mark, you've been interacting a lot more with your sister.  It's probably the sweetest thing in the world.  Right up until one of you screams.  But most of the time you two play really well together, especially since you now are constantly on the move.  We still have sweet mornings and after nap moments that you will cuddle up in my arms and take a bottle.  But mostly, you want to get up and go.  


One thing I must note: the hand down the shirt move.  When someone picks you up, without fail, you put your chest against their shoulder and slide your hand down the front of their shirt.  It's weird.  And funny.  And EVERY. TIME.  Sometimes your hands are colder than expected.  Yikes!

And you are a smart little girl.  We used to give you kisses each night right before bed.  Daddy would walk you over to McKenzie, and then me, and say "Kiss!"  We can't do that anymore.  The first time you are taken for a kiss, you start crying because now you know that means bedtime.  I don't particularly enjoy kissing a crying baby so we sneak them in and then take you off to bed before you realize what's happening.

Your first year has been incredible.  There have been ups and downs, which coincided with good and bad sleep schedules, but most certainly more ups than downs.  Every day gets a little bit easier with my two little girls and a little bit more fun as you two start understanding what being sisters is all about.  Annie, I love you with my entire heart.

Annie One Year Stats
Weight: 19lbs, 10oz (27th percentile) - 3oz LESS than her sister at this age!
Length: 29.25in (56th percentile)
Head: 17.5in (31st percentile)