Her 13th Month

We say it to each other all the time these days- London is such a little person.  Our baby is gone and a little girl has arrived.

London is so much fun! She is full of giggles for dada and delights over catching a glimpse of another baby.  Her little finger points forward 75% of the day telling us where to go and what she wants to discover next.

She is also much more determined to have her way and explore new things.  I thought tantrums were supposed to start at two?

Despite the challenges, we are amazed at how much London understands and wants to do.  The other day I said: "London can you close the fridge for mum mum?" and she toddled over and successfully closed the massive door.

This month has been packed full of fun adventures with Mimi like going to the aquarium and the zoo. 

 She is discovering new places with us like strawberry eating at Butler's Orchard, the pool, new parks and new kids to play with.

This month we dedicated our child to God in front of our church and asked for help with parenting.

We are going to need it...

12 months alive

London's new favorite toys are balls.  Can't you tell she is ready for the pitch? She can even say "Ba" although it is the exact same sound for her bottle and baby doll. 

Her other favorite thing in the world is playing outside.  I am not sure if it is the chance to run into a doggie or other kids, but she will take her shoes and start banging on the front door to let me know it's time to go outside.

  The big success this month was getting her hair into pigtails!! Goodbye mullet boy.

Easter 2012

My Easter Babkah baby is so much bigger this year!  Now she is old enough to be put in charge of quality assurance testing so the first loaf out was hers. 

Almost all of my aunts and uncles on my dad's side were coming to NJ from all over the US, so we decided to join in for a quick overnight visit.

A Polish Easter feast: ham, kilbasa three ways, meatloaf, potato salad, ambrosia, noodle pudding, babkah, spring veggies and of course, colored eggs.

After brunch, about 1/2 the adults joined the "children" for an Easter egg hunt. 

  I can't say that Jesse and I came in with the most eggs, but the best part for us was watching London go on a mini Easter egg hunt afterwards. 

 

She was so ecstatic over every egg and spent about an hour after placing the eggs into her basket and then shaking them all out again and again.

 London's bounty

Family picture attempt.

11 months

London's 11th month was so much fun!   

She loves exploring, trying new things, organizing.  She not only unravelled this roll of TP, but then proceeded to systematically shred it into tiny bits and place them in a nice pile. 

Lisa and Sarah took London out to her first restaurant-Matchbox.

Jesse says that he has heard her say the word "Doggie"

She loves climbing!

And other people's toys

But what gets her most excited is other kids.  She will go on and on talking to them in her babble non-sense.  Playing with her cousin, Campbell at her birthday party. 

London's First Birthday Party!

I thought about just posting to facebook "Yea!  London is one today!" But my husband, Jesse and London's Godmother, Sarah wouldn't hear of it.  London was going to have a party!

The invitation

So we made beautiful cupcakes.  And found out that we could create that perfect blue we never dreamed food coloring could achieve.  However, it will temporarily stain your tongue, and your teeth, and your face if you tend to be an excited eater.

I got all party crazy and had to make my own copy of this sign.  When we lived in England these were train stops on our way into London.  Jesse would also have me mention that his home made soft pretzels were the most popular appetizer.

Our tiny house became too loud to hear it as the party evolved, but Jesse created an awesome soundtrack of British songs we played over and over the year this baby was made. 

The memo got lost that I needed a baby pic of her stuffing the cupcake in her face. As it ended up, after one bite, she made a face and crawled away.  Anti-climatic. 

We were surprised when everyone showed up with presents for London!   (I have to admit here that I have never been to a 1-year-old birthday party myself)  But she was quite pleased, and has been in toy heaven all week.

We invited over people we knew who had children within a year of her birthday so that maybe one day she can point to the pics and say, "See, we have been friends since we were 1!"  Thank you all for coming!

Of course, her grandparents were there too and even her uncle Chad showed up.  Sarah is not pictured either, but she did so much to make the party happen.  Thanks Sarah!

10 months

London is our little puppy these days.  Her favorite past time is spent watching out the front window wishing for something to happen in our neighborhood which resembles a ghost town during the day.  It is so funny to watch her shriek with excitement and bang against the window when the dogs across the street go out for a walk.  

Her other favorite activity is crawling up and down the stairs.  Now that she can carry items with her, she will take a sock or a small toy and throw it over the railing so that she can chase after it and then do it all over again.  

She is obsessed over eating!  The girl can pack it in!  She clings to anyone cooking or trying to eat and whines for some handouts.  Like a little dog, she will chew on her shoes, eats crumbs off the floor and lick your face to give kisses.  She is our favorite little pet.

This month London has also started shaking her head no, pointing at everything out of reach and dancing. Ok, she just bounces her booty up and down to the music, but it is SO cute!  

And my favorite new habit to watch is her stockpiling.  She takes her favorite toys and collects them in her car seat.  So funny!  Usually it is her cell phone, a bottle top and some Tegu blocks.

9 Months Have Passed Already!

 As soon as we hit the 9 month mark, all I could think to myself was oh my goodness, I almost have a 1 year old!  This month was extra special since she decided to start saying "mamamamama".  She usually only busts it out when she is whining for something, but I'll take it!

It wasn't long after realizing that she could crawl, that she began pulling herself up onto furniture, mommy's pants while cooking, and the stairs!  She could spend an hour going up the stairs again and again and again...

As she reaches the top of the steps she starts pursing her lips to do her "exercise" breathing.  So cute!

London is up to three meals a day now.  The girl is obsessed with eating.  She will pump her little legs in her high chair in delight as we feed her and make "hmmmm" noises after ever bite. She is still in the 90% for height, but luckily she is back to average for weight.