What happened to our wee baby girl??  I guess it is normal to feel like the last year has flown by so fast, but when you are strapped into the roller-coaster ride of parenthood (complete with moments of thinking you are going to throw up with fear to moments of incredible exhilaration) that first year’s ride ends too soon. 

Our sweet fluffy-haired daughter is now a full-on “Wobbler” – walking fast, walking everywhere, walking straight for the edge of the stairs or in the bathroom to explore the toilet or after Pico to grab her tail.  Thank goodness for the “Mia Zone” – carpeted, blocked off, and reasonably safe.  Her zone is now overflowing with toys and blocks and her favorite – books.  It is a delight to watch her pick and chose and explore on her own.

Mia’s first birthday was a very special affair.  We tried to keep things simple and with just family since she isn’t quite able to comprehend her birthday yet.  We were very lucky that so many of her big loving family were able to come, including her birth family: Mama Nika, Grandma Lyndel and Uncle Michael, her Daddy Chris, Grandpa Robert, Grandma Nadine and wee-Uncle Alex!  My parents (aka Grandma and Grandpa) and my brother, Uncle Mark came up from Bend, and Bonnie’s sister, Aunt Marci, came from Seattle.  The rest of her family in Florida all sent cards and gifts and Gran and Nana are planning a visit in September.  Mia Lynn looked summery and happy in her litte birthday dress, trailing a helium balloon around the house and eating her first cupcake (she wasn’t so sure about that sticky frosting she couldn’t shake off her fingers.  From now on I’m frosting everything so she can’t throw it on the floor.)  Needless to say she connects us all with her joy and the love we all feel for this little girl.

The other big change is that Mia has started daycare, just after turning one.  Although it has been a real loss to us as a family to not have Shaunna here on a regular basis (we miss you!) it was time for Mia to interact with other kids and learn some social manners.  (This first came to light on a trip to the Children’s Museum in May when she stole a 9month-old boy’s toy and then smacked him on the forhead and knocked him over.  We were both horrified and proud, all in the same moment.)  We have found a really wonderful place for her to go most Mondays through Thursdays: Cloud Nine.  Although Mia is adapting to the new rules and adjusting to not being the one-and-only princess, she seems to be thriving in their care, and at the end of the day is happy and reluctant to leave.

We are obviously proud of our little girl, and so grateful to have been blessed with a beautiful, healthy and thriving child.  She is a good egg.  Some of her other recent accomplishments:

Says (sort of): dog, duck, cow, fish, horse, ball, hi

Sounds: moo (for cow), roar (for lion and many other animals), meow (for cats), woof-woof (for dog), baa (for sheep)

Signs: all done, more, mama, eat, milk, bye-bye

Eats: everything BUT avocado.

As we enter her second year, we are buckled in, anticipating the highs and lows and swoops in our stomachs as Mia Lynn teaches all about parenting in months 12-24.  Stay tuned and pray we don’t fall off the rails.

~ Mama J.