Matt and Courtney: One Year!!!

This is just absolutely amazing to have a one year old! I cannot believe it has been a year. As I look back over the past year, I am just blown away by God's graciousness in giving us this precious little one. It feels like she has always been here, but at the same time it feels like just yesterday I held her in my arms for the very first time. Her birth was the hardest, and most miraculous thing I have ever gone through. The experience was so surreal, and it is just amazing that we have already come this far!

My precious 12 month old started taking her first steps a few weeks ago! She would only do 1-3 steps and only when we were outside. In our house, there are basically either furniture or walls within reach no matter where you are, so I guess she never had to practice while inside. She also was soooo fast at her push toy that she never wanted to try to get there a slower way. So it took a few weeks with only 1-3 steps for her to really start getting the confidence up! Although she still falls frequently, I think it's safe to say that we officially have a walker on our hands! It is so cute watching her balance, and even cuter when she tries to move faster than her balance allows and falls forward. Hannah is down to nursing just in the morning and at night and has really done awesome! She loves food, but I have discovered that she is not much of a breakfast eater. So far she does not have a taste for milk, and has actually started rejecting plain cheese and yogurt. She will eat cheese if it's melted on a sandwich or mixed with other foods, but will not eat it on it's own! She also is not a big fan of yogurt, but of course loves to take bites of my yogurt while I'm eating it. We'll probably let her try strawberries this week and start trying honey soon too! Almost all dietary restrictions lift when they reach the 1 year mark. The newest food discovery of this past month is that Hannah LOVES sauteed spinach!!! She eats it by the handfuls and I can't get it on her plate fast enough. Hannah loves playing with toys. She loves throwing and rolling balls, and thinks it's hilarious to watch someone kick a ball around. She still loves books and has a blast pulling things out of boxes and putting them back in. For her birthday, Hannah got 2 dolls and she loves to feed them with her toy sippy cups. She so far as not shown a fondness for stuffed animals, but seems very pleased with her little babies. She loves to give kisses to people, her babies, animals in books, and the phone when someone is talking to her. She also loves to talk on the phone. I will often catch her sitting on the floor with her hand up to her ear just chattering away! Sometimes she gets a little embarrassed when she catches me watching her. Hannah still has slight anxiety of being left in the nursery at both the ymca and at church. She usually settles down at the YMCA and plays, but since we only just recently started trying the nursery, so far we've been unsuccessful at leaving her in there for very long. Hannah is still an awesome sleeper, but has started waking a little earlier in the morning. She usually takes pretty great naps too. Hannah usually takes 2 naps still, but can definitely get by on one when that's all our day allows. Hannah can still wear 9-12 month clothes, but it is mostly in 12-18 month stuff. Her hair is getting longer, and although I've tried some ponytails, she usually finds a way to pull them out! Hannah is now 31 inches tall (still 95%) and 23 lbs 5 oz (80%). The last few times we've been to the doctor I've expected her to weigh more, but she must just be a tall skinny (not too skinny) little thing!

Having a blast at the Splash Pad