Happy 1st Birthday Holland

We celebrated the birth of this sweet baby one day early because my mom was visiting and was flying home first thing the morning of her real birthday. We had a sign, cake and presents. Considering how much talk, excitement, and anticipation we are used to from our kids leading up to their birthdays, Holland was pretty unimpressed.

In preparation for her cake 'eating' we took her clothes off. Not so bad at first. But then we showed her the cake. (I didn't realize the blueberries would run so bad--it looks a little creepy.) But then she got some of that chilled whipped cream on her tummy, and the entire world was wrong. 

I love the frosting drool.

But then we cleaned her up, put on some warm dry clothes, and life was better. The girls picked out this cute ball and payed for it with their own money (just money from the tooth fairy and what they had collected in parking lots). Holland also received a fun floaty from Grandma Deru and Grandma Lucas. Mommy and Daddy gave her a new story.

On the actual day of her birthday we put the headband on her that she wore at the hospital. We can't quite believe how teeny tiny she was. Look how big that bow is on her head!

She sucked on her toe for us. This still might be my favorite trick that she does. Well, that and saying "Mama." It is officially her first word. And absolutely adorable. I can't believe that we have had this cute girl in our lives for an entire year. What a blessing she is to us! It still melts my heart to see her as a little newborn, but I just can't get enough of her little smiles and giggles now.

At 12 months old we have a little angel on our hands.

Holland crawls everywhere. She also pulls herself up on stuff--couch, crib, bookshelf (she has discovered the delightful activity of unloading the bookshelves). She loves it when the pantry or refrigerator is open.

She loves the water and swimming. Her floaty is a great success. and frees up mommy and daddy to play with the older girls. Although we all still love playing with Holly baby in the water. 

Holland balances on her legs (normally with quite a wide stance) for a few seconds. At twelve months she doesn't really walk along things, but it is coming soon!

She loves ears and often pushes John's and my faces aside in order to find our ears. She still doesn't like a sippy cup or pureed food. She loves playing with her tongue--twisting, clicking, and sticking it out.

She has a very loud shriek which she is learning to use more and more. She is just more aware of her voice and plays with it. Her little baby babble is adorable. I already said she says "mama" but it really is the best. Also she is getting more vocal when she doesn't like something. Instead of crying she will more yell at us--kind of complaining that she isn't happy about something.

She loves to mimic us--sniffing, loud breathing, clapping, splashing. It is so sweet. She has started to recognize the word clap. If I say, "Holland, will you clap, clap?" She will do it. She also recognizes bath, milk, mama, dada, night night, and bite. Her very favorite part of the day is when her Daddy gets home. She gets so bouncy and excited. If she is on the floor she tears after him on her hands and knees. If she is in my arms she dives for him. She adores her Daddy. 

At one year old Holland weighed 18 lbs 4 oz (25%). She is 29" tall (42%). Her head circumference 18 1/4" (85%).  

We just adore this little girl. She has the entire family wrapped around her little finger. 

"You are so cute. You are the cutest baby in the world right now." -Eliza

"I love you Holly." -Miriam

"I love you Holly. I am so glad you are in our family." -Daddy

"Holland, you are such a delight. You brighten up my life. I call you 'sweetness' and it is because that is what you are to me--pure happiness. I love you baby girl!" -Mommy

Happy Birthday Holland!

The End of First Grade--A Letter to Eliza

Oh my little Eliza. How does time go so quickly? You just ended first grade. You seem to be sprinting to the next thing. You "can't wait" for so many things. Second grade, your birthday, Christmas, our vacation. I wish we could all just take a breath and relish this moment. Like this moment when you are delighted by creating a new recipe. This is the newest creation. Cherry dumplings. We all loved it.

You just finished first grade. You seem so much more grown up now. Instead of being a little kid, you are just a kid now. You have eaten lunch at school all year, taken the bus half of the year, and proved me time and again how loving and angelic you are.

Not everyday was so sweet. You often came home tired from a long day at school. You had friends that were kind and then not so kind. You sang popular songs that you heard on the radio on the bus. This maybe didn't seem so sad to you. But it made my heart sad to see how you preferred teenage singers now instead of children's silly songs. A change that seemed to happen over night.

I feel sad that you are growing up so fast, but in other ways I am not so sad. I love the girl you are turning out to be. You are tough, kind, confident, loving, empathetic, and so caring of your sisters. Not to mention you are so incredibly smart. Sometimes you astound me at how much knowledge you just absorb.

You have an amazing grasp of spiritual things. You read and understand the scriptures--at seven years old! When we ask you what something means in the scriptures you can tell us!

Look how much you have grown up in the last year! You are such a blessing to me, Daddy, and your little sisters! You care for them so much.  I love how much you adore your baby sister. And maybe you can't tell right now, but what you and Miriam have--that is best friend material.

I love you darling girl! I love your delight in the Narnia books. We finally finished reading that series together. It only took me a year and a half to read them to you. If it had been up to you we would have read them the first week we got them. You reread them all the time. I am astounded that your interest has not waned on those books. You talk about them too, theorizing with me, and laughing at your favorite parts.

You keep me laughing too. Maybe this won't be funny to you now, but someday it will.

Like how you always tell Holland that she is "the best baby in the world right now." Of course this is because you and Miriam were also the best babies.

How you asked me out of the blue one day, "So how does the sperm cell get to the egg cell?" That is my anatomically correct girl!

When you told Holland, "I don't want to have to step over you youngster." Then you turned to me and matter-of-factly said, "That means young monster."

When we went on a hike and you kept saying the funniest things, "That bug must think my face is a beautiful flower because it won't leave me alone." And, "Did that bug have to hit me like a bullet?"

When Daddy asked you how long you have been awake, "An hour, or maybe ten minutes, but I think an hour."

Then there are the good ideas you have: opening a milk jug with a knife. Using the same knife to try to saw an opening in another empty milk jug, stacking two chairs and a stool to stand on top of--all in the hopes of making and hanging a bird house.

I love you sweet girl! You are a light in my life!

Love,
Mommy

Feeding This Baby

Feeding Holland is easier and harder than feeding the other girls at this age. On the one hand, she is to the point where she genuinely likes food, but on the other hand she HATES baby food. Even just at sweet applesauce she shudders, holds her mouth open, and just lets it drool out (as opposed to swallowing.)

Her preferred method is feeding her soft food (but not pureed) by hand, either my hand or her hand. I tried to push my luck the other day and fed her our yummy sweetened oatmeal. She wouldn't take it from the spoon, but she did from my fingers. As you might imagine, this made for a much messier experience--little stinker.

She does love cheerios and feeding herself other things--tomatoes, steamed broccoli, beans, corn, etc. Her favorite part is definitely the damp rag at the end. After she gets wiped off I let her play/chew/suck on the damp cloth. You might think she is thirsty after eating. I think so too. But she has ZERO interest in a sippy cup or a straw cup. No thanks Mom. 

She just wants her milk. She still nurses to sleep fairly regularly. It is the sweetest! I love nursing this baby.