Growing

Being a parent is all-consuming. This week has been really busy, running from one thing to the next. With Maggie turning 1 last month, it seemed to set off a string of developmental milestones. I've also felt a little lighter in spirit but it hasn't made it any less crazy around here.

Let's see...Maggie's looks are changing, her hair is a mess of crazy waves and curls, she's delightful at one moment and whiny the next, she loves playing outside with garden tools, and she eats most of what we eat and makes funny faces. She just experienced a couple feverish nights, probably related to some new teeth popping through. Molars? All I know is there were many times I wanted to pull my hair out earlier this week.

She has slowed down growth-wise, which makes me worry, but I know it's normal. She's just such a small little lady. I come from a tall family, so I'm not used to it. Her 12-month clothing barely stays on her.

Here is a fun one...she has started using baby sign language. We've mostly taught her by showing her these videos for the past 6 months and it was like a lightbulb went on right after her birthday. We have recognized the signs "more", "all done", "bird", and "want". She is also sounding out 1-syllable words after we say them, like "hot" and "sock". It's funny to listen to her little voice.

She has always gotten around really well. Everyone comments about it. It cracked me up that my mom told me she always wondered what a climbing baby was like since neither my sister or I were climbers. Well, we have one, she climbs on everything and is pretty good at it, and she is pretty risky when she goes to get off of something, like our king-size bed. She knows it's going to be a fall but goes for it anyway. Half the time she is upset that she tumbled, half the time she lands well and keeps on moving.