12 Month Check-Up!!

Well, I've blogged about all of the birthday celebrations, and now I want to write about all the amazing things our one year old is doing these days!!!

We had her 12 Month Well Baby Check-Up today, and all went well.

She started this appointment being weighed like a big girl instead of sitting on the baby scale! I had my camera ready, but I do wished I had taken a picture at least one of those times she was weighed laying down/sitting!  =(

She weighed 22 pounds and measured 29 inches (they still lay her down for that) - both in the 50th percentile. Dr. Crittell says she is one of the most consistent babies she's ever seen - she has stayed exactly in the 50th at every visit! I guess that's a good thing!?

The 12 month check-up includes taking a blood sample to check Hemoglobin and lead levels She was none too happy about this process - they have to take a lot of blood to check for anemia and it took a lot of milking her little finger to get a big enough sample! Both were perfect! Yay!

The rest of the check-up went great - no problems - fit as a fiddle! Then, unfortunately, it was time for FOUR shots! Not happy about this either! Thankfully, the nurse was well prepared and did them all super-fast, so I could scoop Mira up as soon as possible and calm her down.

So, that's about it for the doctor's appointment. Our next visit is in February at 15 months - boy, does that sound old!!!  =)

Here are some other note-worthy facts about 1 year old Mira!

• You are starting to say a lot of words here and there! The list includes Jeter, Dog, Nice, Yuck, Duck, That? (as in "what's that?"), Daddy, Mommy, "rooaaar" (in response to "what does a tiger say?"), "grooowwl" ("what does a bear say?), "meow" (I bet you can guess this one!).
• You are also signing a few words which include: "All Done"; "More" (we think really you only use this to mean "I want a snack," "more snack," or "a different snack"); "Fan"; and "Help"
• You've got about an 80% success rate when asked "where is your head?"; "where is your tummy?"; and "where is your heart?" You're most consistent with finding your heart.  =) You point to everyone's nose (including stuffed animals/dolls), but don't usually respond to "where is your nose?" - I guess you're not interested in sharing that information yet.
• You are still wearing a size 4 diaper - looks like you'll be in them for a while; they're still pretty roomy.
• You are wearing mostly 12 month clothes, and size 3 (6-12 mo) in shoes (you have a smallish foot).
• You are in Level 3 at Gymboree. I'm not sure when you're supposed to move up, but I'd rather stay here for a little while!
• You are walking so well (have been for about 2 or 3 weeks)! You can stand up all by yourself without holding onto anything, you can turn, and you're getting really fast!!
• You love to dance to any sort of music - it's the cutest thing ever! You will play and re-play any music you can such as musical greeting cards or toys that play music. You even learned how to adjust the tuner on the radio and change the station when the music is interrupted by talking!
• You clap for Mommy & Daddy and especially yourself when any of us does a good job!
• Not only can you climb all the way up the stairs at lightning speed (you've been doing this for a long time now), you have recently figured out how to go down the stairs at an alarming pace!
• You can get down off the sofa, a bed, or your chair all by yourself using much the same technique as you use for going down the stairs.
• You can put things inside something else and are learning to stack (you can put one mega block on top of another), and you are very good at putting rings on your ring stacker.
• You understand so much of what we say to you and you usually oblige when we ask things like "give that to Mommy, please"; "put that back, please"; "come here" or "come with me"; "leave that alone" - you do that last one even though it really upsets you most of the time!
• You are a whiz at uncapping markers, pens, etc., taking caps/lids off of small bottles/containers. You enjoy uncapping chapsticks and glue sticks, and you are capable of opening those mini bottles of shampoo/conditioner, so we really have to keep an eye on these things.
• You love chapstick - you pucker your little lips right up when I uncap it and ask if you want some. After I put it on, you smack your lips together as if to rub it in! So adorable!
• You are a pro at turning the light switches OFF and ON.
• You can scribble a little bit with markers, but you would rather just play with the marker rather than draw with it.
• You are very good at putting coins in your piggy bank.
• You are quite the climber - you try to climb everything! Glad we tethered the bookshelves a long time ago!
• You love watching football with Daddy; you clap and cheer everytime it's on (even if it's just the highlights on SportsCenter). This makes Daddy very happy.
• You try to comb/brush your hair and ours, and you like to take clips/pins out of my hair then try to replace them. You get very frustrated when you can't make them stay!
• Some foods/drinks you really enjoy: cheese pizza; chips - plain or with beans, cheese, or salsa on them; plain soy milk; bananas; Chinese rice crackers; graham crackers; ginger snaps; Annie's Homegrown snacks (a version of goldfish and teddy grahams); cereal bars; peanut butter and cracker sandwiches; all the Gerber snacky foods (puffs, yogurt melts, etc.); pudding; Jumbo rice crispies in silk; water - you love to drink water!
• You still don't want to eat diced fruits or veggies - anything "wet" or "slimy" seems to oog you out (banana being a strange exception to that rule).
• You have quite the sweet tooth and enjoy cake; ice cream; candy; cookies, etc. We try to keep these to a minimum, but you do scarf them when you get a chance! (I can't blame you, I think you got that swee tooth from your Mommy!)
• You've recently taken a real interest in all your books. You like to take them all of the shelf and leaf through the pages. You've even sat through a couple of stories from start to finish! You especially like to turn the pages - usually before I have read everything on that page.

A few pics...

Such a little "mommy" already!

"Putting it on a fancy plate does not make me want to eat this!"

Yum! PB & crackers!

Diva.

Big girl walking at Gymboree.

Really starting to love the climbing aspect of Gymboree!

And now I would like to record our current bedtime routine...

Around 7 or 7:15, we start getting the bath ready (turn on the bathroom heater, run the water, get pj's and a diaper, set out a towel and washcloth). We are still getting in the tub with you just because we think it's way easier than bending over the edge of the bathtub, it's safer - you are quite the slippery, wiggley worm, and it's fun! We switch off every night, so tonight, Daddy (donning his swim trunks) was in the tub with you. We wash your hair every night and scrub you down, then just play with all your bath toys for a while. I guess it won't be long before we start putting you in there by yourself. We have a time or two, but it was such a hassle!

Around 7:45, it's time to rinse and get out of the tub (unless you are super-sleepy and then we get out a little earlier). Whoever isn't in the tub is waiting in the wings with a nice fluffy towel to wrap you in and dry you off. We plop you on the bathroom counter (on top of another towel for extra cushion) and get you dressed. I rub lotion on your feet and legs and sometimes your tummy and arms. I clean your ears with safety Q-tips, even though I know I'm not supposed to, because you absolutely love it! I like to dry your hair good with the towel and comb it then re-fluff your curls (Daddy thinks this is silly). You hold onto your hair brush while I use the comb, then when I'm done, I open the drawer, and we both drop our tools inside!

The last thing we do is teeth. I give you the gum massager and you "brush" your teeth, saying "aaaahhhhh" the whole time with your little pinky in the air (precious!). Then I use your real tooth brush to clean all those pearly whites! We finish with a quick floss (using a floss pick) between your bottom two teeth which are the only ones that touch so far - you always open right up for this!

From there, we walk down the short hallway to your room. Along the way, we say goodnight to all of our family members in the photos that hang on that wall. We point to the same ones everynight and in the same order. You lead the way, waiting for me to say the person's name and "goodnight", we wave, then you point to the next one. The last picture we look at is a picture of you as a sleeping, naked newborn. I always point out your "cute little tushie" in the pic then give your present day tush a squeeze! This makes you laugh.

Then we go into your room, close your blinds and drapes. Daddy gives you kisses and tells you goodnight and that he loves you. Then  he turns out your lamp while I lay you down in your bed. I put you in the corner, with your back snug against the bumper pad, give you Ally and tuck your blanket around you. I lean way far down and give you a couple of kisses and tell you to sleep tight and that I love you. Then I leave your room, closing the door along the way.

You go right to sleep and stay out until around 5:30 in the morning. You move around a lot but always have your head shoved way into the corner of your crib bumper pad. At first, this really unsettled me, but after moving you a couple of times and finding you right back there, I have come to realize that you are comfortable that way, and you are, in fact, breathing.  This is why I start you out in the corner - because otherwise, you toss and turn and scoot until you get yourself there. Although, I do still wake up in the middle of the night sometimes and stare at the monitor long enough to see you breathing or until you move - just to be sure! I really wished you didn't like to bury yourself in the bumper pad!

Well, this has been a very long post. I think I've covered most of the details. I am so excited about watching you grow more and more - stronger and smarter every day!

We have enjoyed this past year so very much; you really do bring so much joy to our lives! We love you madly, Mirabelle!