The Best is Yet to Come: Twelve Months Old

Caitlin,
You turned 12 months old on May 26th. 12 months old, punkin! Can you believe it!? You are a whole year old and what an absolutely amazing year it has been. We had your 12-month doctor's appointment on Tuesday, June 7th and here are your 12-month stats:

Weight: 17lbs (<5th percentile)
Height: 30 inches (between 50 and 75th percentile)
Head Circumference: 44 cm or 17.3 inches

Once again, you are tall and skinny, and Dr. M is fine with this. You have stayed pretty consistent since you were 4 months old, so we think this is just how you're going to be. We are just happy that you're healthy!

So, what are you up to this month?

You are still wearing size 3 diapers, both day and night
You are wearing all 12 month clothes, but honestly, if we had summer clothes that were size 9 month, you'd probably be wearing those, especially the pants. Unless they are leggings, the 12 month pants that we have for you are mostly too big in the waist and when we pick you up from daycare, they have usually taken them off because they couldn't get them to stay on you! The good news is that it's summertime and you don't need to wear pants - instead, you've been wearing A LOT of dresses!
We bought your first pair of shoes on your birthday, and you are wearing size 4.
You are eating stage 3 foods and most other purees - you basically prefer purees over finger foods or other foods unless they are snack-type foods (i.e. cheerios, puffs, goldfish, crackers, etc.). We are trying our hardest to get you to eat more food than just the purees.
You did try blueberries, strawberries, and cooked carrots this month. You had an allergic reaction to the strawberries the day after you ate them which resulted in a cute little rash on your face.
We are working to transition completely to cow's milk.
I stopped pumping on May 27th, and we are just finishing out the freezer supply (which lasted us until June 9th)
You need to pull yourself up on something to get to a standing position, but once you're standing and playing with your toys, you have been letting go and standing on your own for longer periods of time.
You took 3 steps on May 15th when we were visiting with Grandmom and Granddad in PA, but haven't walked a ton since then. When I pick you up from daycare, you're usually standing and will walk a few steps to me, but that's about it.
You like it when we sing "If You're Happy and You Know It" and you clap your hands at most of the appropriate times.
You are good at waving hi and bye-bye.
When we ask you how big you are, you put your hands up and put them on your head as if you have a headache. It is really cute because you are so proud of yourself when you do it.
You brush your teeth every night at bedtime. You love brushing your teeth! Lately, you've been acting like you're finished with you bottle by pushing it away, so we go and brush your teeth, and then when we get back to your room and I tell you it's time to go "night-night", you act like you want more milk. So, you drink a couple more sips, and then we have to brush your teeth again! I think you know that it just extends bedtime a little bit - you're a smarty!
You babble a lot and say "Mama, Dada, Lala, Baba, and Yaya" all the time.
You are a pro at turning the lights off (flipping the switch down), and you get very excited when we walk by one because you think it's always time to turn off the lights.
You love putting your toys in your buckets/toy boxes and taking them out. This includes putting the remote control for the fan in and taking it out of your cookie jar toy.
Speaking of remote controls - you love them! Really, you just love anything that is electronic.
You are getting really good at playing with your nesting toys and putting things inside each other.
You had your first ear infection this month.
You became a big cousin this month. Your new baby cousin, Leah Rose was born 3 days before you turned a year old (on May 23rd).
You have definitely been more snuggly this month. You put your head down on my shoulder most nights when we rock at bedtime. This means the world to me, and I'm cherishing every second that you let me snuggle you.
You love pushing and walking with your toys.
You love looking out the windows at our house.
You have 12 teeth. This includes all 4 of your 1-year molars. They showed up this month and now we are just waiting for your incisors and your 2-year molars. I hope they take their sweet time showing up.
You have started making a lip-smacking noise when you eat (i.e. the kissing sound).
You are good at giving kisses. If we ask you to give us a kiss, you lean your little head down and closer to us so we can kiss your forehead.
You love chewing on my necklace and my keys. You get very upset when I take my keys away from you to start the car when we leave school.
You have shown us more and more of your personality this month, and we have seen a little temper coming out.
You are starting to imitate us, and you try really hard to say "Uh oh" when we say it.
We gave you your first cupcake on your birthday, and you wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. You cried when we tried to get you to eat it. You also didn't want to eat the smash cake that we got you for your birthday party.
We went to Connor's 2nd birthday party, and you tried pizza for the first time, and you had your first pony ride.
You love being outside and going for walks.
We are working on transitioning to a sippy cup, and you are also working on drinking from the big girl sippy cup (without handles). You love drinking from our glasses and from water bottles (with our help).
You are very ticklish, especially on your feet, upper chest and under your chin.
You have a baby mullet. Sometimes, when it's really humid, a curl or two shows up in the back.
You had your first night away from me and Daddy while we went to Aunt Becky and Uncle Jordan's wedding. Grandmom and Granddad came down and stayed with you, and you had a great time!
You are still a thumbsucker, and it seems to come out more often when you're not sure about something, need a little comfort and when you are sleeping. We think you are the cutest little thumbsucker that we've ever seen, but because of this, I think we are going to need to start saving up for your braces now!
You are starting to become more interested in other kids. I'm sure that daycare is helping you to become more social.
If we ask you to give us something, you will give it to us (and then immediately act like you want it back). You even give Bunny to me so I can give him kisses.
You dance to music by bouncing up and down.
You love shaking things and clapping your toys together to hear the noise that they make.
You are still sleeping really well - usually about 11 hours at night (7:30pm - 6:15/6:30am) and taking two 1-2 hour naps during the day.

The last year has flown by faster than I thought it could, but it has definitely been the best yet. Those sleepless nights when we first brought you home seem like a lifetime ago. We have had so much fun watching you grow into a beautiful little girl (toddler!), and we cannot wait to see what the next year will bring. Happy birthday, sweet baby girl! We are so proud to be your mommy and daddy, and we just love you to pieces!

Love you like no other,
Mommy

Here are your 12-month pictures with your bear.