Birthday Girl (Long Overdue)

Our Sweet Kassie GirlOk so Kassie turned a great big 1 when we were on vacation. She spent most of her 1st birthday in a rental car going from one grandma's house to the other. Not real memorable in the way of birthdays, but since she's not likely to remember I think I'm ok. She got a special birthday cupcake, balloon & ball when we stopped at Aunt Anjie's house and she did get to open some presents when she got to Grandma Terry's house. Then a few days later she got to "dig in" to the birthday cake when we celebrated her birthday along with cousin Kaden, and uncles Don & Jon.


UMMMM - Cake
MORE CAKE!
YEA CAKE!
I wanted to wait until I got her checkup so I could tell you how much she's grown. Well last week she finally had her checkup (when we got back on vacation our doctor was on vacation). After the checkup they gave me a piece of paper that let me know her height, weight & head circumference along with all the growth milestones I should be watching for - pretty standard stuff. Nate was with me so while I got Kassie dressed I gave him the paper and told him where I would like it in the diaper bag and I saw him put it there just as I asked, but between there and home it fell out and I don't have any of the info - ironic I know but it only gets better. You see I can remember all my kids birth weights but none of their heights - I could look them up but I just don't remember them on my own - and I do remember how much Kassie weighed at her last checkup, so that update I can share. So when our dear sweet little girl was born 13 months ago she was 7 lbs 3 oz she is now 18 lbs 2 oz - she's growing and tracking just right according to the charts. She's average height (50th percentile for those who track) and small in weight (10th percentile) - but I could have told you that. Considering she's 13 months old & wearing 6-9 month clothes, although she's really close to moving up to 12 month clothes.

Thinker girl
Dad stop tickling me!

She's walking everywhere, she can climb the stairs with ease and is getting pretty good at getting back down them safely. She's an extremely happy baby! A big change from the constant crier we brought home from the hospital, we discovered when she was about 2 months old that she had reflux, a little tummy medicine and her true, happy disposition was finally able to come shining through. She's out grown the reflux and the need for the medicine - YEA! I'm trying to get her to polish off the last of her baby food - she would just as soon eat whatever everyone else is eating. She's by far our most adventurous eater & has used her little teeth (she has 8 right now - 6 in front & 2 molars) to try everything from mac & cheese to prime rib. She has her favorites but will try just about anything. She loves bananas, watermelon, fresh peaches, baked (or mashed) potatoes, corn on the cob and just about any kind of pasta. It seems to me the stronger the flavor the more she likes it - she likes BBQ anything. In fact the only thing I can think of that she's not really liked at this point is cauliflower - she likes tomatoes, I think she thought it was watermelon - but she still ate it & wanted more and has eaten more than 1 pickle (proof that she is my child). Her favorite snacks are graham crackers, goldfish, ritz crackers, cheese quakes, or just a piece of cheese.

Not many people can look this cute with a mouth full of banana
She loves her big brother & sister. She lights up when they are around & they are so good to her. The love to play with her & make her smile/giggle. Nate's newest thing is piggy back rides - good fun 'til she spits up in your hair - now that was funny !
She's got a contagious smile and the cutest little laugh. She does this funny little scrunchy thing with her nose that cracks us up every time.
She even has this funny little fake laugh that she does that she picked up from Nate.



I love to her the "flump flump flump" of her little feet across the kitchen floor when she realizes the fridge door has been opened - she loves to play in the fridge!
One of her favorite games is peek-a-boo and her newest thing is to climb into the video cabinet and play peek with you.
Although her first experience with the swimming pool was a little cold & in her opinion very unpleasant - she does love to "swim" in the big pool - either with mom or dad or in her floaty

After a fun time swimming
And she's learned "he who has the remote has control"


She loves mom & dad - but I'd say she loves dad more since da da da is the most common thing heard from her mouth - she's not yet said any version of mom. At dinner time, if Dan doesn't pay attention to her she shouts (yes shouts) "DA DA DA" until he acknowledges her, in fact when she gets into trouble with me for getting into something she shouldn't be into, she first will echo my no no not where her version of no "na na na", then she lets me know with out any doubt that she doesn't want to be with me but with "DA DA DA". I just can't win - but I don't mind. In short - We love our Kassie girl!

I am grateful for Kassie for the pure love and joy she brings to our family. She truly has been a binding force for our family - bringing happiness & laughter to every day. It's hard to believe an entire year has gone by. I can't remember what life was like without her in our family. I keep reminding myself to cherish every minute with her - she's growing up so fast. I am truly honored to be her mom.