Happy 12 Months!

Ashlynn,

You are 1 year old! It still amazes us that you have only been here for such a short time, but that it feels like you have been here forever.  I can still remember the first time that we saw your sweet face.  You have grown so much since then, and it has been a joy to watch you learn and discover.

Today we went to the doctor for your 1 year checkup! Everything looked healthy and you are doing great developmentally.  Your stats are:

Weight: 23 lbs (79%)

Height: 30.3 inches (83%)

Head circumference: 45.7 cm (68%)

You have gotten on a great schedule.  You wake up each day around 7:30-8:30. You eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day.  Bananas, yogurt and cheerios are a breakfast favorite.  You love meat and cheese for lunch, and whatever we are eating for dinner.  Lima beans are a favorite veggie.  For snack you love raisins. You take 3-9 oz bottles a day: mid morning, mid afternoon and before bedtime, although we will be stopping with bottles/formula next week.  And praise the Lord, as of this week you are sleeping though the night!! It is such a blessing that we are all getting good rest!

This months biggest development has been with language.  Here are the words you say:

Mama, Dada, dog, cat, duck (guck), cow, frog, banana, more (mo), all done, knock-knock, car, go, G-Ma (gaga), Bampa (Ba-pa), and book.

You can also sign "all-done" and "more". On your birthday, you made your first "sentence". We were walking to the car and you said "go, car, go".

You have also become even more mobile (if that is possible!).  You are so close to walking, but have not yet taken that first step!  You crawl everywhere.  If you know you have something that you shouldn't, you will run/crawl away from us, stop and giggle, and then keep going. The other day, I heard you laughing and found you sitting by the window flipping through a book and laughing to yourself about it!

A few of your favorite things this month are:

Instruments, music and banging on anything like it is a drum

Books

Songs: ABCs, Happy Birthday and Head and Shoulders

Puzzles

Chocolate (you got to try some over your birthday weekend!)

Anything having to do with farm animals (Baby Einstein, pictures, etc)

Cuddling on the couch with mom and dad

Roughhousing with dad

Your little personality continues to make us laugh! You have your daddy's sense of humor (and sarcasm!).  You are such a stubborn little thing, and independent too.  If we tell you no, or swat your hand you will look at us and laugh.  At the same time, you are the sweetest, kindest, most cuddliest girl!  Your smile can light up a room, and your laugh is contagious.

As you enter this 2nd year of life, we pray that the Lord will continue to mold and shape your little {BIG} personality!  We pray that you will embrace sisterhood, and that you will thrive and grow healthier each day.  We love you so much sweet Baby A!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Christmas 2012: Part 2

On Christmas Eve, Mark had to work.  Ashlynn and I spent the day getting ready for our post-Christmas vacation.  That afternoon we headed to have a relaxing evening with Mark's family. We had such a nice night sitting around talking, laughing and enjoying some yummy food! Ashlynn was a little cranky (the beginnings of a cold or allergies :/ ) so she slept a lot that night. 

Napping with Grandpa

Her uncles were crying with her!

New bears from Grandma and Grandpa Sangenito!

Dad is showing her how to work the xylophone

Loving her new instruments!

Happy Birthday!

Today our sweet baby girl is one! Time has truly flown by, and the past year has been such a blessing and joy for our little family. Here is a look back at her past year:

3D Sonogram

1 hour old

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

4 Months

5 Months

6 Months

7 Months

8 months

9 Months

10 Months

11 Months

12 Months

Christmas Calendar

For our parents/grandparents Christmas gifts, we decided to make a photo calendar of Ashlynn's first year.  Her birthday being in January made this pretty easy.  We went out each month and took themed pictures of her. It was so much fun taking {and hiding!} these surprise pictures.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Christmas 2012: Part 1

This Christmas/holiday season was unlike any before.  Having a child seems to change all of the that.  We began to recognize the things we want our family to focus on during this time, and also things we may stray away from emphasizing.  Even though Ashlynn did not understand the trees, lights, wrapping paper or nativities, it was such a joy to watch her experience these new things and to spend time with those who love her.

We started off our Christmas with a trip down to my grandparents.  I can remember going to the Land of Lights there growing up, and was so excited to see Ashlynn's reaction.  She was very quiet, very curious and in awe of the lights and music!

She spent a lot of time with her Granny and Bampa, her G-Ma and Uncle Shane, and my Aunt and Uncle and cousins.  She even said "Bampa" while we were there!

On Sunday, we got the chance to attend the church where I served, and it was such a blessing to see so many faces that we loved!

When we came home, we had lunch and Ashlynn (and everyone else!) enjoyed her first go round of opening presents.

Paper? Yes, please!

Already loving her new toy from Granny and Bampa!

She especially loved opening a present with her cousin Abbi, and trying to eat the wrapping paper :)

Our trip to my grandparents was short, but a sweet time.  We love them so much, and are so grateful that they are getting to watch Ashlynn grow up and be apart of her life!