Violet - 12 Months

Weight - 22 pounds 6 ounces

Length - 30 1/2 inches

Head Circumference - 18 inches 

Dear Violet,

I know you didn't turn 12 months over night but to be completely honest it still snuck up on me. As I was decorating your high chair last night it hit me - you are a toddler. I remember when your Dad handed you to me to hold for the very first time when you were only seconds old. I remember counting your age in weeks because I felt like I earned every single one. Now you are a one year old. An opinionated, curious, motivated, friendly, cute and boogery one year old.

The best part about being one is that your little personality is really shining through. We see your determination when you crawl across your room to get what you want to play with and slowly drag it with you as you crawl back to us on one elbow. Your sweet and loving side when you hand me your most prized bunny blanket as I say good morning to you everyday. Your mischievousness as you've learned to open and close your drawers, which means socks may or may not be in their drawer, in your t-shirt drawer, in a pile on the floor or hidden somewhere else in your room. Your intelligence as you learn more signs and can now identify where different parts of your body are. And last but not least your opinions - now you will shake your head "no" to let us know if we got it wrong or share your frustrated whine if you're not getting what you want.

You are also really fun to have at the table for meals. So far we're lucky that not only will you sit in your high chair with us during meals but most of the time you will enjoy the food we are eating too. You like to cheers with your sippy cup, you attempt to use a fork and spoon, and you have even mastered sipping from a straw. When asking for more you will point to what you want and if we select the wrong item you will quickly correct us with a shake of your head. You've also gotten three more teeth in that smile of yours.

This month we also started to take you swimming once a month with on of your baby friends. The first time you weren't so sure, probably because it was a brand new environment. But since then you seem to be your normal happy self floating around in the water. Out of the water you have started to take a few steps on your own but you are still mostly happy holding on to one of our hands to walk you around. Two days after your first birthday the switch flipped - in the morning you were holding on to our hands and by the time dad came home from work you were walking all on your own. I have a feeling you will start to "get" things like this more and more over the next year.

We couldn't be more excited with everything you continue to learn and how you continue to grow. Your first year has been so much fun and we can only see how it is going to continue to get better with every passing year. On the one hand, we wish we could keep you little forever but on the other hand we wouldn't want to miss out on all your great accomplishments we have yet to see. Happy First Birthday Violet!

Love,
Your Mom and Dad