Growing up!

We have a lot of firsts to report. The big news is that we can say Allie is officially taking her first steps! She has been taking one or two for a while now, but I didn't really count it as walking because she was so wobbly! She still doesn't have a lot of balance, but she has so much fun trying! I think she thinks the point of it is to dive into your arms at the end; not continue going!

Two Saturdays ago she finally did her first sign language! She asked for more milk when we were having breakfast at LaMadeline. Now she will do it when she wants more food! I really wondered if she would ever do any of the signs that we work on all the time! Yea!

She also started saying "Dada" now. I am not sure why it took her so long to say that as she says so many other things, but she loves to say to it now!

We also went on our first bike ride as a family on Saturday! That was a lot of fun and Allie seemed to enjoy it after she figured out what was going on! I know Jon has been waiting for this as he loves to go biking! Her little helmet is so big on her! Her head size is only in the 15% they don't make smaller helmets! I found the seat for half price at Toys R Us because the style is being discontinued-( score!)

One change that I have been afraid of for the last 2 months as we struggled with it is the whole nap issue. Allie has decided that she is a ONE nap little girl! I tried for 2 months (most of the time unsuccessfully) to get her to take her morning and afternoon naps. She used to sleep 12 hours at night and two naps that were between 1-2 hours each. But, after all the struggling I have found that this is actually easier because she sleeps anywhere from 2-3 hours right after lunch! She is usually cranky in the morning and if I try to get her to sleep (and if she does and I still put her down everyday to see if she will) then she WON'T take another nap, no matter how short that morning one is! So we are going places in the morning and Bible Study to keep crankiness to a minimum! and the early bedtime has been reestablished because she is so tired at night (still sleeping about 12 hours though).

We have gone down to 2 bottles; afternoon and night time one. And she is drinking whole milk with no problems transitioning. Sometimes at night she only drinks about 2-3 oz so I am thinking of dropping the night time one next week.

She has also started doing little tantrums if I don't let her go into the pantry, (to play with the dog's food), if I don't let her go down the stairs, or if she is getting into something she is not supposed to! I thought that was supposed to happen with the terrible two's???

Our Little Baby Girl is growing up and we are having fun!

Allie's FIRST Birthday

We had a Frog theme for her First Birthday- same as her room and my baby shower last year.

It has officially been ONE year since we welcomed our little baby girl into the world! At times, it seems like a LONG time ago and yet at other times; just yesterday! No longer does my little dog, Raymond, jump into my lap when I sit down, no longer are the pots and Tupperware kept in the cabinets until they are needed, no longer can we sleep in on Saturday mornings, no longer can we take the trash out with out it smelling like dirty diapers, and no longer are we waiting to have the joy of our lives look at us and say "Momma and Dadda!"

Lots of changes, but each new stage brings so many wonderful new insights into who Allie Keegan will become. Her little personality is starting to shine through and hearing her talk is so much fun! She is definitely not shy and loves to get other people to look at her when we go out places. She will talk up a storm at times and loves to laugh (and scream in car now)!

For her Birthday, we had family and our friends over for a small lunch party. I decided to try my luck at making her a special cake and did a homemade Strawberry cake with Fondant icing. I must admit that it turned out pretty good- tasted very yummy and if you don't look too closely; it looks pretty good.

We started the day off with chocolate chip pancakes and her favorite strips of ham.

I made Pot Roast and roasted potatoes and Allie's favorite ; sweet baby carrots. She loved it all and even had seconds!

Jon made her a separate cupcake for her to eat in hopes of her making a big mess all over her face with the icing.

But, she chose the more lady-like approach of picking at it and then not even eating a single bit of it! She really prefers vegetables to sweets and I would like to keep it this way as long as possible! I am SOOOO thankful she did not inherit my picky eating habits and dislike for most food in general!

She had a great time opening up presents and playing with the paper!

Julia got inside a present bag and Allie thought that was funny.

She didn't take a morning nap, so she was not able to stay up for very long in the afternoon.

We enjoyed getting to celebrate her Birthday and in the years to come, I hope I remember not to go crazy with trying to do outrageous parties! :O)

Later that night, we actually went to another birthday party (Allie's first party that she was invited to) for a little girl in our Sunday school class, Laney Hill. Last year, there were 4 babies born within 2 weeks of each other (3 within 5 days of each other) and Laney was born 2 days before Allie.

Sunday, Jon decided to make good use of the balloons that were already losing their helium(!) and gave Allie some nice hairdos!

Monday, we went for her one year doctor appointment. She is now in the 65% for height (29in) and weight (21lbs) and still only 15% for her little head!

And speaking of heads- last night after her bath, I noticed the back of her hair had a few little curls in them!!! They were gone this morning, but there is hope that she will get some curls (although in the front it is so straight and will only go straight forward!)

She is not walking yet, although she has taken a few steps on her own. She will stand on her own until she realizes it and then wants you to hold her- silly girl! Maybe by Easter she will be walking and I won't have to clean my floors all the time!