So happy!

I am so happy to be home with Stella! I am realizing just how much I have missed. I feel like she is learning at such a fast pace and I am glad to be a part of it. She is starting to use more signs like "eat" and we are working on "more," "juice," and "milk." She is saying words like "mama", "dada", "hi", "banana", and "night night." Yesterday, she said "night night" and walked to her room as if to say "I am ready for a nap." I wish it was always that easy! She is doing really well at mother's day out and has moved up to a 40 minute nap on a nap mat on the floor. I don't know how they do it, but I am glad she is adjusting.

January

Where's Stella?
Swinging at the park on the only cold day of our winter...

Sitting by the the fire with daddy

Will you take the picture already?
Are you finished?

More Christmas

Christmas memories

It's funny-a lot of my friends have babies that are a little older than Stella. They tell me stories about what their kids are doing and sure enough, Stella starts doing it. It must be a developmental milestone to cover your face and try to do things. She loves to put a blanket over her head and try to walk/rock/crawl. This caused a pretty bad fall out of her rocking chair while playing peek a boo with daddy. The other night she decided to put on this hat and run into things-giggling when she would hit something. Christmas morning presents-she's very focused.
I don't know what she is saying, but she has become very opinionated in her babbling baby talk. She points and yells and has a lot to say.
Taking a ride in her new wagon-we love it!
Taking a walk with dad at Grandma Polly and PawPaw Johnny's house

Seven

days to go! I told my students today and they seem to be taking it pretty well. I even had one student say "YES!" when I told them I wouldn't be returning in January. Nice. Anyway, I am so excited! Whoo hoo!!!

'Tis the Season...

(December 2006)

...to take a lot of pictures of a squirmy 1 year old! Last year's photo was so much easier to take. Trying to get her to cooperate was a real test of patience and the three of us are not very patient people. We managed to get a few, though.

She is addicted to spaghetti....I think she might have the same taste in food as her dad. I was looking forward to having someone to eat vegetables with, but she is quite the picky little one.

She's 1!

Here's a picture of Stella and dad around this time last year...sniff, sniff

Swinging with Cousin Grant at Papa and Grandma Newman's house
Hanging out with Aunt Tonya at her birthday party
Opening presents is fun!
A little tired after all of the festivities

Stella's birthday party was wonderful! We had a great time watching her open presents and entertain the crowd. She is growing so fast. She is still not walking, but she crawls at lightning speed and is starting to climb. Stella loves to empty out cabinets, so I guess it is finally time to put locks on some of them. She plays peek a boo, dances, and is starting to really understand what you are saying to her. It's amazing to be able to tell her to do something or ask a question and she knows what you are saying. She is such a wonderful gift and we are so thankful for her. Can you believe that a 1 year old could be the funniest person I know? (yes, even funnier than her dad!)