Milestones

Well. So much for that last blog series. I made it halfway. Give me some credit ;p

I made it through Danika's first birthday parties. I have not yet made it through her actual birthday, though. We will see how that one goes. I'm already teary eyed! Its amazing to think of where I was a year ago ... my little ol' belly, sore back, and the numerous books I read that could never, ever prepare someone for the actual event of giving birth. Her birthday being on Halloween, it will hopefully be easy enough to keep the day busy and my mind off her turning one. 

S I was thinking the other day of all the special moments I've had with her. A few stick out in my mind the most ... December 28, she smiled at me when I picked her up off the changing table. Oh how my heart melted into a pile of mush. It never really picked itself back up. Shes got me! March 28 she rolled over (I can't remember which way). Yep. I got to see it AND i caught it on video. The look of suprise was priceless. Shortly after that Nate calls me at work and plays a video of her laughing hysterically in the bathtub as he squirted her with bath toys. It was music to my ears! There is nothing sweeter than the sound of her laugh. I will do ANYTHING to hear it as often as I can. July 1, she crawled! She had been rocking back and forth on her hands and knees for weeks and one morning! She decided she knew what she was doing and zoom zoom zoom she went! She was so proud of herself ... my goofy girl and her independence. Finally, in September she started standing all by herself. I walked into the home of our playgroup host, and set her feet on the ground, expecting to hear the normal "plop" as her diaper hiney hits the floor ... BUT I DIDNT! I looked down surprised to see her standing there looking around as though it was a whole new world! 

I'm thinking back on this stuff for many reasons. I absolutely love the little girl she's turning into - so funny, content, stubborn, independent, and the list goes on. But I will miss so much the feet grabbing, the innocent laughter at a panting dog, the fat rolls in her little legs, the squishiness of her cheeks, and the slobbery kisses. Tonight she made her first real attempt at communicating her needs to me with sign language. I was reading her favorite book (touch and feel "day at the zoo") and put it on the floor. She picked it up, handed it to me and signed "more!" Oh how my already melted heart dissolved even more. It was a pretty special moment knowing we had "talked". She's signed water, duck, fan, light, and milk but none of them really meant much other than she knew what those objects were. 

Nate's telling me to stop crying and enjoy the fact that she can walk soon so he can teach her to throw a football. So I guess I have to stop writing about it. For now :) Many more memories shared to come in the next few weeks!