13 month check up and updates

Ali had her 13 month check up a couple days and boy was it a rough one! She had to get three shots which of course was harder on me than on her. She cried for about 1 minute and forgot about it as soon as she got a sucker. Right now she weighs 23 lbs (78th percentile) and is 31 in. long (89th percentile). Basically she is stretching out. She still has a heavy appetite but is extremely active. She is a busy body for sure! She is right on track with her development and is very social. She thinks she's pretty funny and laughs at herself all the time :). Today is the first time ever that I won't be seeing her for over 24 hrs. Joel and Ali went to Wallowa Lake today and will be there until tom morrow. I have to work tonight, so we thought it would be good to see how she does without me. I'm sure she will be just fine...me on the other hand. I've definitely gotten myself into a routine with her and like a lot of routines it's just hard to get used to at first. But I know in my mind it's good for both of us. But in my heart it kills me.

I'm doing well. I'm still not at 100%, but I know I'm getting there. I've started working out regularly again but my body is taking it's time getting back into shape. I still have quite a bit of anxiety about my healing but I think time is going to help me with that.

Today marks one year!

I can't believe how fast this past year has gone by! Ali has brought so much joy and love into this world it's absolutely amazing! For me this has been a humbling year on many fronts. First on parenting...before having a child it was so easy for me to place judgements upon other parents. The fact of the matter is, is that you just don't know what parenting is like until you become one yourself. Even then, each child presents different challenges that yours may not and most parents are simply doing the best they can. I give many props to parents in general, especially single moms. The second thing that really humbled me this year was my physical well being. This year has been rough...by far the most difficult year of my life. While pregnant I was sure that 6 weeks after having Ali I would be running 5 miles, working 2 nights a week, and back in my size 6 pants. Boy was I wrong! One year later, I am still "recovering" from delivery. However, I must say that I am doing much better than even 4 months ago. But I am not even close to my size 6 pants and I am working per diem. What I've learned is that somebody, somewhere has much different plans for me...and while I may not have been able to control much of what happened this year with my health I always had control of my attitude. Some days were really, really hard. But again, I had the choice to dwell on the negative or look to the positive. And there were many positives this year. Even though I didn't return to work like I had planned, I got to spend every day of this past year with Ali. I was able to breastfeed her to 12 months and still am. I got to see the first step and hear the first word. I get to rock her to sleep everyday. These things I will never get back, so I am truly grateful that I was able to be there for those moments. I may be biased, but Ali is special and I am so grateful to be able to witness her beautiful life.

and the best item of the year goes to ....

Aden and Anais swaddler blankets. I just bought the dream blanket for Ali's 2nd year. The swaddler blankets are my favorite thing that Ali got this year.

Swim Lessons Rock!

Ali's 10 Month Photoshoot

10 month updates

This is Ali next to the tree I got for my first Mothers Day. We planted it in front of our new house.

Ali has taken about 3-4 steps.

She stands on her own.

She talks ALOT. Saying 2-3 different sounds in one word.

She's eating pureed foods still and some chopped up fruits and veggies.

She's got 3.5 teeth (2 bottom and 1.5 top).

She got a new house.

Swim Lessons

Ali had her first swim lessons this Saturday and they were a success! She absolutely loved being in the water and being around other babies. She was not scared at all! Since we have a really deep garden tub in our new house we are going to practice some of the moves the swim teacher taught us. I think love swim lessons more than Ali :).