The pictures shown are from your 1-year pictures we had done in early July, but you haven't really changed too much :) (Thanks to http://www.ginacristinephotography.com/.)
We have always known that you have quite the personality, but these days you are really showing us what we are in for. You are happy - so happy, funny, feisty, stubborn, flirty, and sweet.
Beginning at 4 weeks, you were smiling and seriously, you haven't stopped. You won't always go to people you aren't sure about, but you will always give them a smile. The best is in church. We can usually hear laughing behind us because you just smile at everyone and wave and appear to be flirting. (But, I have to say church is very difficult for you. I can't remember the last time we made it through all of mass without going in the lobby area. You want down and to walk and explore. In fact, last weekend, you took off out of the pew and giggled while moving your legs as fast you could so we couldn't catch you. Stinker.)
You are funny! You love to tease us by acting like you are going to give us something and then pull your hand away. You even do it with Luke, which really makes you laugh. Your laugh is the best!
You are very stubborn though. You know what you want and will push and pull until you get it. You throw your head back, stomp your little feet, and throw your tantrum. It is a very little tantrum right now though and hopefully it stays that way! Your newest name is Drama Mama!
You love to eat!!! We still haven't found anything you don't like, and we can't cut up your food or fill your plate fast enough (you are actually eating off of a plate now!). Some nights we are in complete disbelief by how much you eat. We have given you everything and seconds and you still are wanting more. But when you are done, the bib gets pulled off and you say "All da".
You are still a mama's girl all the way. You cry when I leave the room even at home and have especially been giving me a hard time when I drop you off at Punky's. I am sure it is just a stage and hopefully when we get back into going full-time you will get used to it and not be so sad. But keep those cuddles coming!
You LOVE Nala. You are always looking for her and seem very concerned about where she is. Even if we aren't at home, you are looking for her. All dogs are named Nala too - we are working on that with you right now. It is so cute how much you love her and you are actually really gentle with her. And let's face it, she loves you too because, while you don't share your food often, you do share with Nala!
You have finally let us look at books with you. We aren't reading much of them yet though since we can usually only get through one page before you are on to other things. You have two favorites and when we ask you to bring us a book, you always go for those two. My favorite thing right now is when you go get a book yourself, bring it over to us, and back your little butt up and plop onto our laps - love it!
As always, you are very interested in everything that Luke is doing. In fact, I think you learned how to hit off of a tee from him already :) We were outside the other day and Luke was hitting off of the tee. When he was done, you picked up the ball, very carefully set the ball on the tee using both hands, picked up the bat, and knocked the ball off. You were excited and we were excited and Luke thought it was pretty funny! I could watch you two together all day long!
Some other little tidbits about you:
you give kisses and blow kisses.
you make the funniest sounds when we ask you what a horse says or a duck says.
you climb - ugh, the climbing!
you cuddle - you are the best cuddler!
your dance moves are hilarious - you definitely have the head sway/bob going on (think part Stevie Wonder, part Night at the Roxbury skits from SNL).
you do NOT like being told no and turn on the waterworks right away.
those teeth just keep on coming in and you are a champ.
you nap great and sleep great.
you follow direction very well (for example, if we ask you to sit or stop or put something down or get something, you listen and understand).
you answer to many names - Boo Boo, Missy Moo, Poo Poo, Paigey (we probably should start to drop some of those nicknames).
We just love you so much Paige - you bring so much to joy to everyone! Happy 13 months baby girl!
[I decided to start the tradition of every birthday taking a picture of Paige with a balloon. We will keep adding a balloon every year. So when she is 16 and hates me, she will smile and hold 16 balloons :) ]
