I’m late on this, and I still can’t even believe this is our last monthly update before she turns ONE. Where on earth has the last year gone?

Height: 28 inches
Weight: 17 pounds 6.4 ounces
Clothing size: 9-12 month things, typically. Still squeezing into some 6-9 month jammies, and wearing 12-18 month shorts from the Children’s Place since they tend to run small.
Eyecolor: Baby blue.
Teeth: Still just two down in front.
Eating: She nurses every 3.5 to 4 hours. She still doesn’t have solids most days, but she’s starting to show more interest in eating. She can down a container of pureed fruit if she’s in the mood, and she likes those little baby “puffs” and sucking on pretzels. Nursing is still our #1 priority, so we’ll probably get more serious about solids after her birthday.

We don’t give her a sippy cup, but she has grabbed Kaya’s and seems to have figured out how to use it. If nothing else, she loves playing with it!
Favorite things: Playing peekaboo, dancing, going upside down, looking at books, catching bubbles, and taking baths. She loves being outside. Favorite toys include the stuffed guinea pig she snuggles with at night, any of the toy kitchen food/utensils, water bottles and sippy cups… and basically anything she isn’t supposed to have (like chewing on shoes… ew). Dislikes: Clothes going over her head and getting buckled into the car seat sometimes.
Sleep: Bedtime starts at 7 pm, and she usually sleeps until about 6-6:30 am. This month, she did something totally crazy… she slept through the night! She probably sleeps all the way through about 50% of the time now. Otherwise, she wakes up just once, nurses and goes back to sleep. It’s crazy, but I’m still waking up a lot thinking that she should be up.

I let her snuggle me, nurse, and doze off for about half hour in the morning (usually around 10 am) if we’re at home, otherwise she gets cranky and doesn’t last until naptime. If we’re on the go, she catnaps in the stroller or the car. Nap is around 1:30 pm and lasts until around 4:30. She still naps in the pack and play in our room.

She also LOVES to sleep with her feet sticking out of the crib. Cracks me up! Nicknames: Baba, Baba Grace, Koala Bear (because of how she holds on to us when we carry her… like a little baby koala holds on to its mother!), Kaelyn Koala
Milestones, etc.: -We have ourselves a professional “scooter”! Just as I predicted last month, she scoots her little booty across the floor, while sitting up, to get to wherever she wants to go. I LOVE seeing her move and explore, but I very much wish that I could explain to her that actually crawling would make her life sooo much easier! It takes her forever to go from point A to point B this way, but she’s a determined little girl and does it!

-She’s also a pro at rotating around/changing directions.

-She’s still not pulling up or cruising along furniture, but we’ve been practicing standing, and she’s getting so much stronger. She is interested in pulling up, but can only get about halfway toward actually doing it right now. I’m guessing she isn’t far from it, though.

-She’s started “pretending” to do things, like brushing mommy’s hair or feeding you with a spoon, etc.

-She’s certainly a bit clingier now than she used to be. I still wouldn’t classify it as “separation anxiety”, but she definitely prefers to be with her family. I’d even say that right now, she is a mama’s girl. She loves her daddy, but will often reach out for me even when he’s holding her. I’m soaking it up since Kaya has always been a daddy’s girl.

– Her hair on top is straight as a stick… but I am starting to see just a few wispy pieces in the back that have some texture… which is exactly how Kaya’s curls started out! So, I’m curious to see if her hair stays straight or becomes curly over time. We’ll see!

Dear Kaelyn,

I love you so much, princess. You bring so much joy to all my days. You are my little buddy, always by my side, watching me, or holding on to me.

I love your sweet, spontaneous kisses and the way you gently rest your hand on my arm or hold my shirt while you’re nursing to sleep. I love how you pretend to act shy when a stranger talks to you, and the way you nuzzle your head against my chest to hide.

Having you has made the days go by even faster, and I can’t wait to celebrate you in just a few weeks. You are our sunshine!

Love, Mommy