Caroline turns ONE

12-month stats
20 pounds, 6 ounces 

29.5 inches

3 teeth (two bottom, one incisor--a bit strange, no?)

It's amazing that we've gotten to love and squeeze and marvel at our sweet Caroline for an entire year already.  As much as I hate how fast the time goes, each new phase is just so much fun that it's impossible to wish her back to what she was even a week ago.  A few days ago I was chatting with Emmett about how Sis used to be a little tiny baby and now she is so big.  He responded by saying that we just love her even more now--which is pretty darn true.

At 12 month's old Caroline has entered the world of walking, taking her first real steps around 11.5 months.She has a darling wide-stanced walk, and she chooses to walk rather than crawl more and more each day. She is also climbing up and down the stairs, though lately she prefers to cry at the top of the stairs until someone carries her down. She nods and shakes her head, which is completely adorable and sometimes even does it in response to questions (probably not intentional, but super cute). She likes putting objects in and out of containers and kind of says mama and dada, though not convincingly with understanding. When she nursers, she tends to be rather acrobatic--always moving!  Also, she is a good little sleeper, sleeping through the night (7 pm-6 am) and taking two solid naps during the day.

Baby Sis currently loves blueberries and bottles of milk, and she's decided it's pretty neat to eat off a fork. She likes to read the same books over and over and over. Her favorites right now are Brown Bear, Brown Bear; Where are Baby's Easter Eggs and Llama Llama Hippity Hop. She also loves touch and feel books. Her favorite song is "Three Little Ducks."

Sweet Caroline has a feisty side. She uses her arms to swipe, stiff arm and even give the occasional smack (we repeat the word "softly" a lot). She also uses her arms to throw things, which is great if she's throwing a ball. It's less endearing when she is throwing remotes at your head or when she is in her high chair looking straight at you throwing every item of food off of her tray as fast as she can before you can get to her with a wash cloth. She has a great furrowed brow grumpy face that we can't help but grin at and has recently decided she no longer enjoys baths.

Caroline also has a wild side. She loves to wrestle her brother and be crazy on the couch.  This activity involves throwing herself recklessly back on the couch landing on the soft cushions and pillows (this activity requires intense supervision in order to keep her safely on the couch).

This girlie may be a bit reserved with her giggles and smiles; but she loves her mom and dad, and I'm sure that no one makes sis quite as happy as her brother does.  She gives great snuggles and kisses (still very much open-mouthed) and, in our opinion, the cutest one-year-old around.

Scrunchy smile

Big baby blues

Innocent face

Furrowed brow, mildly grumpy face 

A wide-stanced, high-stepping walk