One Year Stats

Right on track said the Dr at Frannie's one year visit. She's 29.5 in long (60th%ile) and weighs 19 lbs 10 oz (50th%ile). Her head is still solidly in the 90th%ile. I knew her head got bigger because I couldn't fit some of her shirts over that noggin without stretching them a bit :)

So all is well....next visit is at 15 months in June.

Turning One

Frannie,

One year has gone by and every day I love you more. You have such a sparkly personality, are very independent (yet make it very clear when you are frustrated or want help), and are so smart. I love watching you learn new things every day. I'm thrilled with your love of books, animals, and music. The way people react to you is proof of how special you are....on a regular basis strangers will comment on something about you. Today in fact two older men were having coffee where we were meeting friends and they offered to adopt you. People have been saying stuff like that since you were born.... So I hope you read this as you grow older and as I tell you how wonderful you are and how much I love you and you think "that's my mom she has to say that" know that you don't have to take just my word for it.

When you look at me and say mama it melts me and it's hard not to laugh when you are mad and throwing a little fit. Speaking of laughing, you are quick to giggle and chuckle but your belly laughs are not as easy to come by....but when you let loose with one, anyone around it bursts into smiles and laughs along. It's like music to my ears. 

You are surrounded by love and I can't wait to see how you continue to grow into your own little person. Happy birthday!

Sassy

The girl's got spunk. She's little miss independent and has got a devilish growl/cackle that she uses as she is crawling like a bullet or careening through the house with her walker. Her temper is hot but short lived. At least now she looks at me as though asking if what she's about to do is ok and when I say no or shake my head she may actually not do it. For a while there it was look at me, I say no, she does it anyway. 

Cool things she does: signs all done, more, and please; growls when she sees a picture of a bear or dog or when you say bear/dog; is into peanut butter and jelly and oranges; loves opening and closing the microwave; gaining confidence with her walking; knows how to push every button on every toy to make it talk/play music; dances and claps to songs she likes; loves being pulled in her sled outside; loves computers and iPhones; and a million other things....

Snow

Just a quick post and pics (at our rental and that shovel is about 4 ft tall) of our current snow situation....last report was 2 feet in Duluth. I'm posting these pics (including one of sleepy Frannie with her new big girl backpack from her cousin) now so I can compare them to the ones I'll take Friday afternoon after the latest round of snow rolls through in this never ending winter. School was cancelled at 3:50 pm TODAY because of the storm that comes tomorrow. We are now going to have our last day the third week in June. And it's only mid-February.....

I'll be going to school til July I think.....

First Steps

Frannie took her first steps last Saturday! Brian and I were on the floor playing with her and she walked between us. Solid steps too, not like falling forward. Then on Sunday she was in the kitchen (only in a diaper cause the girl is on the move) and she was bear crawling-then stopped, squatted, and popped up to a stand! Oh the expression on her face....a combination of excitement, surprise, and amazement. 

Since then she will only take a couple tentative, falling toward you steps but is loving standing up. Tonight she stood up and started bouncing while saying "ahahahah" like she was dancing. She was so pleased with herself. She also has learned how to turn her walker herself. So if she gets stuck or has to turn a corner, she either backs up or manhandles the walker to the direction she wants it to go. Wow.

And as for the teeth, they are looking much more suitable in her head. And I'm pretty sure there are more on their way soon because after the two week reprieve of no drool, chewing, or ear pulling, she's back at it. 

She is 11 months old on Saturday and I am loving this stage. She is pretty good at telling what she wants and has a great sense of humor. Overall she's really mostly in good spirits. She's quick to smile, loves music and when someone sings to her, babbles constantly, and LOVES sitting and looking at books. Boy we lucked out.

Cartoon Teeth

Well the top two teeth are finally showing themselves and I'm not quite sure what to think. The look enormous in her mouth especially compared to her tiny nubbin bottom teeth. I, of course, can't get a picture of them yet but I'll post it as soon as I do. 

We went to a local "celebrity" concert last night. Frannie had a great time- I'm pretty sure she thought all the people there were for her the way she was talking and yelling. It was so funny watching her clapping about one minute after everyone else was done. She was so in to it that she stayed awake til almost 9! Pretty late for her. Then today we went to watch the start of the Beargrease dog sled race. It was pretty cold so we only stayed to watch 5 teams go by, but Frannie liked seeing all the dogs.

The only other news to report is that her favorite thing to do right now is push her walker doing laps through the house for (not exaggerating) 20 minutes at a time. No joke. She's like the energizer bunny. I even had to lay down and play dead in hopes that she'd stop...she just ran the walker into me until I moved.

Snow Bunny

We had our first family snow hike last weekend. It was finally above freezing and thanks to some awesome boots from her Uncles, Frannie was able to "walk" (with Dad's help) quite a distance. She loved it! Smiles the whole time and even a little playing in the snow.

She has had a growth spurt for sure...she now can reach things she couldn't just a month ago and I had to get rid of a bunch of clothes that don't fit anymore. She says mama, mostly as a comfort sound I think. I'm not too sure she is officially talking to me. She knows the sign for "all done" and uses it. Now we are working on please and thank you. She LOVES climbing stairs. And when you want to be done climbing but she's not ready...oh boy, the girl has got lungs and she's not afraid to tell you she's mad. She's standing for longer periods on her own now and cruises with her push walker and using walls/furniture/whatever to walk where she wants to go. She's eating pretty much whatever we eat. I have been letting her try out using a bowl and spoon. Not so great...in fact tonight she threw the spoon on the floor as soon as she got it, in favor of using her hands. She's pointing to things and will play peekaboo. She also likes the game where she takes her socks off while in her car seat and then laughs.

And the final big news is that those top front teeth have finally broke through! I'm sure it'll be awhile before I can get a pic of them, but they are there!