Big Girl

My baby girl is one!  Earlier this week I looked again at her just-born pictures, and I can't believe how quickly she grew from a tiny, helpless newborn to my energetic, giggly roaming little miss.  Maren is so fascinated and fun and full of personality; everything is new and thrilling to her.

She is a speedy crawler, goes up and down stairs in a flash (actually she slides down the stairs now), and walks along and with anyone that will hold still long enough.  Maren is much more adventurous in her physical mobility than Ezra was--climbing, reaching, rolling, and sliding.  I have also seen a fair bit of ballerina pointe technique; she has some strong little tiptoes!  She eats exclusively table food, and drinks from a sippy cup.  I have been trying to introduce cow's milk, but a sip or two is all I can get from her.  Mom's milk and water are still her beverages of choice.   

Maren is a feisty little sister.  She snatches Ezra's matchbox cars when he isn't looking, she steals Bear and lays on him, and has her own slew of "I'm not happy with you" responses to Ezra's teasing.  At other times, she giggles uncontrollably with Ezra, especially when he playfully chases her or (gently!) wrestles with her.  She loves playing in-and-out games and peek-a-boo with me.  Any activity with a ball is an instant hit.  Rearranging the lower kitchen cupboards is a daily ritual. 

She adores being outside, and has already eaten her fair share of dirt, rocks, and grass...and a ladybug.  She loves the park and does a full-body spasm of excitement at the sight of swings or slides.  It is so fitting that Maren's fourth word (after dada, momma, and Eh-da) is "weeeeee!"  She  is my go-go girl, and any kind of motion is her thing.  Sitting still is a challenge; being contained in a pew for sacrament meeting is an incredible frustration.  She usually gets to know all of our pew neighbors behind, in front, and to the side before the meeting is over.   

My little miss has some serious rhythm!  She bobs her head, wiggles her bum, and waves her arms at any and all music--at home, in the grocery store, in the car, at church, or even the annoying little ditty played from the ice cream truck  We sing most everyday at our house, and as soon as I say the words, "Let's sing a song,"  Maren starts to move and vocalize with me.  She seems to already have a sense of tapping to a beat as well.   

Books are beginning to be a bigger interest, especially books with photos of animals.  Maren is particularly enamored with dogs.  She doesn't have any favorite toys or strong attachments, but she does enjoy a snuggling with a blanket at bedtime now.