One year old....where has the time gone?

Joy you are one! We all survived this first year. It is amazing to think back to last February 17th. Your dad and I felt very nervous and unsure of ourselves as parents (we still do but about different things than that day). You were so tiny and helpless. Now you are the happiest, most adventurous baby I know, full of smiles and giggles. Your joyful heart is good medicine to all who interact with you (Prov. 17:22). You are determined and have lots of little opinions already. We love you and love watching you grow and change each day. 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

What Joy is doing 

• Joy has started to learn how to climb....watch out pack n play, book shelves and chairs! This girl has some amazing upper body strength.

• Joy's first words are "dada" (dog) and "dadaa" (daddy). They sound very similar but in context it is easy to distinguish. Joy says "dada" every time she hears a dog bark, which is OFTEN as our neighbors dog is very excitable. We spend about 15 minutes each morning and afternoon looking out the window to see if we can see any dogs. She also has been saying something that sounds like "this" as she points to stuff. * note: in the video you can see our daughter's obsession with eating fuzz , fluffy stuff (paper, lint, hair the list goes on)....I must be missing some key nutrient/fiber in her diet :-) HA
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• Joy had her first fever three weeks ago (103F for three days). She still had an appetite and all she wanted to do was read books on the couch. It was very cute but I didn't like having a sick baby, made me one worried mamma. 

• Joy has one new tooth (on the left next to her top tooth). We just discovered it today, so getting this tooth has been pretty painless! Total tooth count: 5

 

Joy using her new toothbrush. Much easier than the one you put on your finger...since this girl bites!

Eats

• Nursing: Weaning is in full swing! Joy now only nurses first thing in the morning and right before bed (that nursing time is going to be hard for her to get rid of!)She hasn't even noticed that I cut out two nursing times during the day.
• Solid food: Joy is still our adventurous eater.  She LOVES fruit and actually squeals with delight when we bring out oranges or blueberries. She is a girl after her daddy's own heart.
• Loves: pumpkin, carrots, green beans, apples, pears, bananas, peas, zucchini, egg yolks, oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, flax seed, eggs, pasta, lentils, kiwi, chicken, turkey (tried on Christmas day), bread, pancakes, tortillas, blueberries, oranges, dragon fruit, grapes, spinach, plain yogurt, broccoli
• Verdict is still out on: Cupcakes :-),  avocado, cheese, cooked blueberries (although she loves raw blueberries)
• Introducing this week: We are going to switch to whole eggs this week. 
• Joy still can't hold the sippy cup herself, but has started to want to try to hold it herself.  She has had cow's milk for about a week. The first day she wouldn't really drink it but now she will take sips. I can get about 4 ounces in her.

 

Open your mouth wide Joy! 

Joy's first bite of blueberry pancakes on her actual birthday (Grandpa Paul always makes pancakes on the weekend so I thought I would carry on the tradition). 

Her face was blue all morning!

Sleeps:

•  Night time: She still sleeps for 11.5  hours, 7pm to 6:30am. We have successfully helped her learn to sleep through the night (no more nursing yay!). Our whole goal over this Chinese New Year staycation was to get her sleeping through the night. 
• The first night was terrible, she cried for 2 hours and when we went in it made it worse.
• The second night for 40 minutes. 
• Third night  30 min...
• Now she cries in the middle of the night for about 1-5 minutes. We don't even really wake up to it anymore. So success!
• Naps: Joy is taking 2 naps a day, 8;30/9am and 12:30/1pm (one hour each). 

Weighs: 18 lbs 12 oz

Likes:

*Reading! Joy goes over to book box and will choose books bring them over to us to read to her. It is very cute! 

Why yes Joy does love playing with dog toys....and we have officially given up caring :-) Especially since Rudy licks her hands all the time and then she sucks her thumb, it was a loosing battle.

* My bathrobe is still in her bed....and I tried to take it away and then she refused to nap. So I guess my bathrobe is now a permanent blanket in her bed.
 

*Stroller rides are much more pleasant, as long as we are moving :-)

* She loves dogs, adults (unless they want to hold her) and little kids.

* She loves to crawl around the house and explore rooms on her own. This girl gets into trouble! But she is getting much better at listening when I tell her no, or something is "not for Joy".

She is always trying to escape onto the balcony!

Dislikes: Joy still dislikes playing alone and having people hold her (except for mommy and daddy...who she loves to have hold her).

Favorite event: Joy had her first birthday on Saturday. It was so much fun!