One Year!

It is crazy to think that Belén was born 1 year ago today! She was 21 1/2 inches long and weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Today she is 29 inches and weighs 18 lbs 3 oz. She has been such a sweet girl to her parents and is breaking us in pretty easily. So on this exciting day I wanted to look back through the year.

Here's a month by month flashback

2 days old

4 days old

1 month (ryan and I think she looks like a little flying samurai in this shot)

2 months

3 months (I think she looks like a buddha figurine in this one)

4 months

5 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

...and that brings us to today : 12 months - 1 whole year!!!

And what a fun year it has been!

the belén update

For any of you who are wondering what Bel is up to these days, here are a few little nuggets.

anyone for a bit o cheese?

She is starting to eat real food with us. This is particularly exciting for me because it often takes me back to my own childhood. There was a time in my life when lunch meant sharing a "mountain salad" with my mom. I would sit on her lap and eat bite for bite off the same plate. The other day I had Bel in my arms sharing a yogurt - we were happy as clams - I welled up just realizing how much my mom loves me.

Bel is not too keen on lettuce just yet but she is a fan of cheese, canned peaches, bananas, oatmeal, animal crackers and the list is growing.

She has decided to crawl using the conventional method. She still uses the army crawl for commuting down the hallway in search of her parents, but has learned that being on her knees gives her a good view and a better angle to climb, grab objects and clear obstacles in her path.

She is learning to mimick us. This was so fun to watch her copy Ryan the other night. (Please excuse my breathy, supressed laughter in the background)

ps she loves her dad - this is my favorite thing in the world - they have so much fun together. I'm fairly certain that she is happiest when playing with her daddy. Just a few illustrations of her love...

The other day we were playing in the front room when Ryan came home for lunch. Before he was visible she heard the sound of the key in the door and all at once she stopped playing with her toys, drew in her breath and looked up - the she looked at me and smiled with anticipation, when Ryan walked in she started squealing and crawling toward him.

If he is studying in the office she will crawl to the door and start knocking on it and making little hoots at her dad - sometimes when he's gone she will crawl to the doorway and look at his empty desk disappointedly. I am pretty sure this little girl will be learning how to fly fish.

Don't worry though she is a fan of both of us - if we are standing close together she can't ever decide who she wants to be held by and will reach for the other parent, getting passed back and forth after being held for a few seconds.

(I posted twice tonight, so don't miss the promised skate park action below)

who's that man???

who is that handsome skater on the horizon?

wow - it's my husband, sharing his skating skills with the locals (they were impressed - five kids on separate occasions all said, "you're not from Kirksville are you"). As promised, a little bit of Ryan testing out the new half pipe.

my great white hunter

A couple things that have recently brought a little extra happiness into a certain young man's life...

Check out that rack!

I like to brag about my honey so for the record... this buck was shot with a bow, through thick trees, from 37 1/2 yards away, while standing on two 2x4's nailed in a tree 20 feet up. I guess he could provide food for the family in a crisis afterall.

Another reason for Ryan to be as giddy as a school boy...

Kirksville got a skate park!

(stay tuned for photos of the man himself rocking this very half pipe)

60 to 6 in a matter of days

Last Wednesday was unseasonably warm - the high of the day was 60 degrees! It was such a treat, we spent a few hours outside just enjoying the fresh air (that didn't hurt our lungs to breathe).

As you can see, Bel was really excited about our al fresco playtime.

A few days later we were back to the frigid temperatures of January. We still managed to make it outside for a family walk.

Don't be fooled - even though Bel doesn't look as bright eyed and bushy tailed at the prospect of this outdoor refreshment, she was still excited to be out. (I can't resist the resmemblance she has to the little boy in A Christmas Story in this coat - nope those arms don't go down)