Lucy's One-Year Doctor Visit

For Lucy's birthday yesterday, we celebrated with pancakes and presents. We kept it pretty low-key because we will be having a party on Saturday with Lucy's friends. Today, the festivities included a doctor visit and some shots :(

Our Lucy girl is growing, though she is actually smaller than I would have guessed. She weighs 16 pounds and 14 oz. She is 27.75 inches tall. And I don't remember her head circumference, but the doctor confirmed our belief that her intellect is off the charts in the 1000th percentile. Ha. 

At 1 year...

- Lucy sleeps through the night. She goes to bed around 8 p.m. and wakes up around 7 a.m. Her parents are very happy about it. 

- Lucy is continuing to try all sorts of new foods. Her current favorites are blackberries, blueberries, and - can you believe it? - bananas. 

- Lucy has six teeth now - 4 on the bottom and 2 on top. She has the sweetest gap between her top front teeth. I will try to get a picture soon.

- She is still not walking, but she is gaining more confidence. She needs to work on her balance. I'm afraid she inherited her mother's lack of coordination!

- She is starting to understand how things work and develop memory. She is also starting to associate words with actions / things. 

- Her favorite new trick is blowing kisses. It's pretty much the cutest thing ever. 

I am so thankful that Lucy is continuing to grow into a strong, healthy little girl. She seems more like a toddler to me now than a baby. We may have even experienced our first few genuine temper tantrum melt-downs. She definitely has an opinion about everything, and she is not afraid to express her thoughts on the following:

- The contents of her high chair tray ("You only gave me one piece of cheese, and I need at least ten pieces!!!"

- The sharp / potentially-dangerous object that has been taken away from her ("I NEEDED that!!!")

- The sleep sack ("WHY!!!")

- Being still ("All I want is FREEDOM!")

- Getting dressed ("I. Just. Can't.")

- Our car keys / cell phones / sunglasses ("The best things ever!!!")

- Morning ("I'm just going to shout at the top of my lungs until they wake up.")

- Nap time ("Playtime!")

Happy 1st Birthday, Lucy!

Today, my sweet Lucy girl is one! I can't believe it has been a year since we met. I feel like we've known one another forever. She has grown into such a bright, determined, independent, and adventurous little girl. 

{newborn}

{1 month}

{2 months}

{3 months}

{4 months}

{5 months}

{6 months}

{7 months}

{8 months}

{9 months}

{10 months}

{11 months}

{1 year!}

Happy Birthday Lucy!

It has been so much fun to watch you grow over the past year! You have changed our lives in so many ways. We are so thankful that God has given us the privilege of being your parents. We love you more than you will ever know!

Love,

Mama and Daddy

Letters to Lucy, Pt. 6

{Pregnant with Lucy, December 2012}

December 12, 2012

Hello Baby,

Last week, we had another ultrasound, and we learned that you’re a GIRL! We can’t believe it! I am so excited to have a little girl to hang out with! There are so many things I can’t wait to teach you, things my mom taught me...

... I already know that you will bring so much joy to your dad and me. I can’t help wondering what your personality will be like, if you’ll be fun and quirky and outgoing or shy and thoughtful. It makes my heart sing to know that our Heavenly Father already knows exactly who you are and who you are going to become. He knows every hair on your tiny head. Isn’t that amazing? He loves you more than you could ever imagine. And so do your daddy and I.

We are over halfway there. While we try to wait patiently for you to arrive, we are going to celebrate Christmas with your grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, and aunts. It’s amazing to think that next Christmas, you will be celebrating with us!

With love,

Your Mama

Letters to Lucy, Pt. 5

{Lucy as Lord Voldemort}

October 10, 2012

Dear Baby,

Today, we saw your picture and heard your little heart beat for the first time. It truly was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced! You were jumping up and down in my tummy! We have our first pictures of you, and you are just as cute as you can be! I am so happy that God has blessed us with you -- what an amazing gift!

The doctor says that everything looks great! Your heart beats 162 beats per minute - that’s so fast! It sounds like tiny hummingbird wings. In your pictures, I think you already look like your dad, but we will be able to tell more in the next ultrasound, which is 2 months away.

I praise God for blessing us with your life, and I pray that He will continue to grow you big and strong and healthy. Keep bouncing around in there, as much as you like!

Love,

Your Mama

Letters to Lucy, Pt. 4

{Lucy, home from the hospital}

September 27, 2012

Hi Baby,

I am ten weeks as of yesterday, and you are the size of a prune! Pretty remarkable!

Lately, I have had what is commonly referred to as “pregnancy brain”. I am forgetful and distracted. I don’t finish sentences. Just a moment ago, I turned on the stove to boil some water, only to realize that I had turned on the wrong burner. Oops.

I am excited to hopefully see a picture of you in just two weeks! We may even be able to hear your little heart beat.

We have not told our families about you yet, but I know they will be so excited when we do. It will be so much fun to share our joy with our families.

Love,

Your Mama

Letters to Lucy, Pt. 3

{Lucy, the first time we met}

September 6, 2012

Hello Baby,

Today, I am seven weeks pregnant. I am starting to feel sleepy all the time, and I'm noticing that my jeans are getting a little tighter around the waist!

Random craving this week: root beer. I never drink root beer. I never even think about drinking it. But lately, it’s all I’ve been wanting. I bought some at the grocery store yesterday, much to your dad’s delight.

Random aversion this week: pasta. Pasta is usually one of my favorite foods. But lately, the thought of eating pasta makes me feel sick to my stomach. The texture of the noodles make me think of slimy worms. Isn't that gross?

Pregnancy is a funny thing. It is a wild new adventure for us. And to think that all of this crazy stuff is bringing us closer to meeting you!

Love,

Your Mama

Letters to Lucy, Pt. 2

{This melts my heart.}

August 30, 2012

Hi, Baby

It is still so hard to believe you’re really in there. I was six weeks yesterday, but so far, my symptoms haven’t picked up.

The book I am reading says that you are about the size of a blueberry. It’s crazy to think how fast you are growing. I am amazed at the way God created our bodies, how He is really knitting you together inside of me, even as I am writing this.

I am almost halfway through the first trimester. It is very hard not to be able to tell people that you are coming. Especially your grandparents! They will be so excited! Almost as excited as your dad and I.

I am praying that you will continue to grow strong and healthy in my tummy. I can’t wait to meet you, Little One, but we both have a long way to go till then!

Love,

Your Mama