Grace Turns 1

Happy Birthday, Gracie! Where did the time go? It's hard to believe that she was born just one year ago. It's also hard to believe we have blogged every day of the first year of her life. (Speaking of which, we're only going to post a few times a week moving forward.)

This morning Grace enjoyed french toast with blueberries and strawberries, and then we went to Diller-Quaile music class. All the kids sang Happy Birthday to Grace...which was probably the 17th time she'd heard it that day. She knew it was a song for her. After class we ran into Todd & Erica's nephew, Spencer, and then we went to the doctor for Gracie's 1 year old check-up. This appointment was a real doozy- 4 shots plus TB. Poor Gracie did not enjoy the visit at all. Besides the shots, we learned that she's 22.5 pounds and 29 inches long (although I'm not sure how well they measured her).

When we came home, Gracie enjoyed lunch, watched a little Sesame Street (her favorite) and then went down for a nap without getting a bottle. The doctor said to drop her bottles, and I was seriously nervous...but it was fine! I couldn't believe it.

Two and a half hours later she was up - and we went out in the bitter cold to pick up some cupcakes and stop by our Monday playgroup. Grace saw her buddies and had fun chasing around the Olstein's dog and saying "woof." Not sure I posted this, but we taught Grace what sound a doggie makes a few weeks ago...and she will totally "woof" if a) you ask her "what sound does a doggie make?" or b) she sees a dog in a book or in person. She has a lot going on developmentally right now. Whether she is reading a book and sees people dining at a table (she turns to me to say "eat" while pointing at her mouth) or singing during music (to chime in when everyone is singing), she really understands a lot these days.

Tonight she enjoyed rotisserie chicken and sweet potato for dinner followed by a vanilla cake/strawberry icing cupcake from Crumbs. She loved the candle, tried to touch the fire again and then voraciously enjoyed the delicious treat. Only my daughter would be sparkly clean after eating a cupcake; she made sure that every morsel ended up in her mouth! Here is a picture of Gracie in a "Watch Out Giselle" shirt alongside a shot of me on my first birthday in a "Watch Out Farrah" T. It just had to be done.

I was planning to write something sentimental to sum up the year because I can say with certainly that nothing has ever brought us this much happiness and amazement, but I think that a line from this week's Baby Center email summed up what we're feeling as Grace enters toddlerhood: it's a bittersweet transition — you miss your little baby even as you delight in your amazing child.

For a look at Grace throughout the year (one day, 2 days, 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, etc.), please click here.