Happy 1st Birthday Blakely!

My sweet second born turned one today. It makes me sad to know that time goes by so fast, but at the same time, I can't help but be excited. I love the age she's at now...she's becoming such a little person. I look at Blakely and feel nothing but joy...and gratitude for God getting us through this last year all in one piece! There have been some rough patches in the last 12 months, and now, looking back, I realize that they were much rougher than we realized at the time. BUT God's grace is sufficient! Thank goodness, because there's NO way we'd make it without Him!! :)

So, my sweet 1 year old...what are you up to these days?

**You are still nursing with each main meal. I'm not sure how much longer we'll continue, but we'll figure it out. You snack between lunch and dinner...usually fruit and whole milk.

**You wake up around 8 am, eat breakfast (usually oatmeal or yogurt), and play or run around town with mommy and sissy. Your first nap is at about 10 am and is your best one of the day. I still sing Jesus Loves Me, You are my Sunshine, and Twinkle Twinkle to you...now you hum with me! You still sleep with your paci and love to cuddle up with your blanket.

**You still FIGHT your afternoon nap...unless we've been outside playing...then you're ready for a rest!

**You love people, but are usually content to entertain them or be entertained by them while in my arms. You do warm up after a while. This drives your Uncle Sha crazy...she wants you to run right for her! And I have no doubt that you will soon!

**You love to dance and clap to any and all music.

**Your favorite game is for us to chase you. You'll run across the room until there's nowhere left to go, then turn around, look at us and giggle like crazy!

**You love baths, but hate for your face to get wet in the tub, but you'll voluntarily put your face in the water at the pool over and over again and love every minute of it.

**You are still a cuddly, snuggly little girl. We still use the sling a lot because of that. You'd rather be in mine or your daddy's arms than anywhere else.

**You love, love, love your daddy.

**And you love, love, love your sissy.

**I can ask you where either of them are, and you take off looking around the house for them, smiling all the way.

**You are so tan that you look half-Mexican. No joke. You have major tan lines in the creases of your elbows. You've never burned. Not even after hours in the afternoon sun with no sunscreen. You totally take after your namesake. It's ridiculous.

**You have 6 teeth with another coming any day now.

**You're in size 3 shoes and 12 month clothes. Although you could still wear 9 month clothes if they were longer.

**Your favorite toys are your sorting blocks and the caterpillar ball toy.

**You point at everything!

**You know where your hair and nose are...we're still working on eyes and toes.

**Your eczema is very much under control now thanks to the steroid cream we use about 3 times per week.

**You put EVERYTHING in your mouth and will hurry to do it faster when you see me coming!

You are such a sweet baby, Blakely, and we love you so much. We can't wait to see what the next year brings! We love you! --Mommy, Daddy, and Sissy