Single Women Adopting Children: Mila is 1 Year Old!

My baby is 1 today! Hard to believe we have been together a year! I am LOVIN this age/stage! Gone are the baby, baby times along with waking up in the middle of the night which returned recently due to her chronic ear infections. Since her ear tube surgery, she has slept through the night again and, is not as clingy/fussy. I saw a change immediately.....she is happier (so is her mama) and is eating a lot more. Also- thanks to daylight savings, she now stays up later and sleeps in until 7:15-7:30....I am so grateful for this as I am not a functional 6 am mama.

At her 12 month doctor appointment Mila weighed 18 lbs, 8 oz (10th percentile) and was 29 1/4 inches (50th percentiles). Thankfully, we were able to put off the vaccinations a few weeks to give Mila (and mama) a break with her just having surgery last week. Pictures and updates follow (professional pictures by Gail: http://www.piccadillyphoto.blogspot.com/ )

Big brown eyed girl!

Not sure about the tutu

Seriously holding up the wall!

I love her smile/big grin!

Mila liked the balloons at first but then lost interest in them. Pictures were 1 day post surgery so- overall I thought she did really well!

Sin tutu con drool

I love the collages Gail makes. We gave one to each of her teachers at daycare.

I love her expression.....like - who me?

Sweet girl!

Here are the updates for this month:

1. Mila has tried a few new foods this month including strawberries and cherry tomatoes. She loves cherry tomatoes and makes a big mess but- it's worth it....they are good for her and I look forward to growing many in our garden this summer.

2. Mila is climbing on and under everything! She now climbs on her toy I gave her at Christmas, tries to get into the dishwasher and - the other day at the doctor's office, was crawling under the couches! She also really likes climbing up stairs.....even the steep ones in our basement. I bought her a slide that she can climb on/under. I hope it wears her out!

3. Mila has taken a few steps by herself with the most being 9 steps but is not yet walking independently. It's likely a matter of weeks....probably within the next month that she'll be walking. Then- I am really in trouble!

4. I have been teaching Mila sign language for the past 6 months but she really shows no interest/has never independently signed. When I prompt her to sign "all done" she says "duh" which I think is an approximation of done. I think she'll talk vs. use sign. Whatever works. I am curious to see how her language develops now that she can hear better.
5. Mila now independently blows kisses and lays on people and/or the ground, pillow or bed and says "awww." She also will initiate peek a boo by covering only a very small part of her eyes then wait for you to say "where's Mila?"

On her birthday, we brought cupcakes and balloons to school. Most of the babies couldn't eat cupcakes so they took them down to the toddler room. I left my camera at school for them to take pictures and they got a few cute ones. I love her new daycare and they love her.....it's a huge relief!