in the words of a one-year old.

How old am I? I am one -- and if you ask me, I'll show you with my fingers!

I have grown so much in the past year. At my doctor's appointment today, I was 30" tall (75th percentile!), weighed about 21 and a half pounds (around the 60th percentile), and still have a tiny head (10th percentile), though you wouldn't know it because I still have my round cheeks.

I can do so many things! I can walk while holding onto Mama and Daddy's hands, play peekaboo where I'm the one hiding instead of you, play my xylophone and pound on my work bench with my hammer, point to objects in my books and then find them "in the real world" even without help or prompting, and dance to my favorite songs (aka anything played by the teapot).

I know lots of animal sounds and can make them for you: lion, owl, dog, cow, elephant, and a car (which isn't an animal but sounds cool anyway). I could watch out our front window for hours, pointing out all of the animals and objects and people we see outside. I also like to show you my fingers, toes, ears, and mouth, though when you ask me to point to my nose I will usually point to yours!

I love reading, especially Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes (there are so many babies to point at in that book!). Story time with Daddy right before bed is still one of my favorite times of day.

I hate hate hate taking naps but I am getting much better at sleeping for a predictable amount of time. Mama is also helping me to sleep better at night -- I usually only wake up once now, and if I wake up more times I can put myself back to sleep most of the time.

I am getting to be a much more picky eater than I used to be. I adore avocado and would eat it at every meal if Mama and Daddy let me, but I'm boycotting peas and carrots and squash even though I used to love them. Sandwiches are hard for me because I still only have two teeth on the bottom. I still don't like to drink anything from a cup, but if Mama makes me a smoothie I will have most of that. I like baba ghanouj (the owner of the local middle eastern restaurant gave me some as a birthday present!) and pickles a LOT and it is a special treat when I get to have them. Of all of the birthday cakes I've tried so far, the angel food cake with orange icing was by far my favorite. But my favorite food of all? Whatever Mama and Daddy are eating!

I am still as friendly as can be and so curious about the world around me. Sometimes, especially if I'm tired, I get a little bit nervous if a grown-up man I don't know so well is too interested in me (like the doctor today with his funny stethoscope!) and Mama isn't right there with me to protect me. But once I get to know you, we'll be best friends! And I love other children and babies and wave and wave at them when we are together (or when I see them in a book, or magazine, or in the mirror at the end of the hall).

When I'm happy, I have a great giggle and I like to wave my hands back and forth with excitement. I also have a certain impish look I give to Mama when I know I'm doing something I shouldn't...but mostly I'm a very good girl.

Whee! Look at me -- I'm such a big girl now!

(pictures from various gift openings in the days before her birthday and birthday celebrations 5/23, 5/24, 5/27, 5/28 -- thanks to everyone for all the love!)

we made it.

4:21pm on May 24, 2012 was a moment of joyous celebration here at the Hanna household: we made it through the first year!

Some photos from our day:

 new baby doll, old dress (of Mom's)

Cheers! It's my birthday! (out for a treat at Panera) 

playing with her new puzzles/obligatory dress + snazzy shoes shot 

goofy fun with Dad 

exploring the lawn (we had a picnic lunch today) 

Mama smooches 

a Daddy-daughter pic

is that for me? 

Whee! Birthdays are fun! 

Lorelei's biggest present: a bathtub of her very own! She lets us use it, too. 

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me,
I am too cute to take a nap, so let me stay up please!

We'll do a "stats" post next Tuesday once Lorelei has her one-year appointment with her doctor. Until then, thanks to everyone who sent cards and gifts and called with warm wishes for our big girl's special day! You are very much appreciated -- especially for all the support and love you've given to all of us this year. Thank you!

taste sensations.

Sour:

(photos courtesy Sara Hanna -- thanks!)

Sweet:

(photos from an early birthday party when the Hannas were in town)

baby grooves.

I have some pretty hilarious pictures of Lorelei eating pickles and cake (not simultaneously) to post, but in the meantime you need to see how the girl dances:



The rather insipid song in the background is her new singing teapot, a birthday gift from the Hannas that Lorelei is madly in love with. Whenever the song starts, she immediately stops whatever she is doing to do this crazy dance. Sometimes, she bobs up and down as well. As you can see in the background (fireplace reflection), it's rather infectious.

Grandpa Nose and Grandma Oy! come to visit.

We had a fantastic Mother's Day weekend with Jason's parents in town! Lunches out, walks in the sunshine, laughing hysterically at the name "Lady Gaga," and showing off all kinds of new tricks like pointing to everything and wanting it named, holding up one finger to say how old she is (almost!), sticking out her tongue when you ask "Where's your mouth?" and getting so obsessed with her new teapot that she forgot she wasn't holding on to anything while she was standing up!

devil with a blue dress on.

Okay, not the devil at all, and more like aqua. But she's a real humdinger and I like it like that.

Here she is, wearing a 30-year-old dress and looking mighty fine!

It was a beautiful day, so we spent some time hanging out under the tree in our backyard. Jason had just come back from a run -- I have no excuse for why my hair looks crazy, though.

And here are the happy shots of a darling little almost-one-year-old...

(in case you're wondering, Lorelei was squealing and waving like mad at a robin -- she is totally obsessed with birds at the moment, much to the delight of her father)