Evie's 1st Birthday!

Way behind, I know.

Oh, my sweet Evie. How has a year passed so quickly? I still like to mentally walk through everything we did the day you were born. Breakfast at BBB (well, technically in the car because they lost our order), haircut for Sullivan at La Rousse, doctor's appointment in Tupelo, our decision to go ahead and break my water at the hospital to get things going, lunch at Steele's in Tupelo (fried catfish), arriving at a packed hospital and waiting for hours in triage for a delivery room, watching the clock after breaking my water to make sure labor was well under way before my doctor came to check on me, watching tree house masters during most of labor, crazy labor pains and tons of pressure in my rectum area, Enchanted on the tv during delivery, nurses on the phone telling the doctor one more push and I'd be done, everyone scrambling to set up/catch the baby while I was pushing those last few times, you, beautiful you, in my arms and on my chest. I can still feel the flood of relief, and love, and emotion at finally having you in my arms. My sweet Evie. You are such a blessing to me and our family and this world. May you never doubt that.

We spent Evie's first Christmas at home, but drove the day after Christmas down to the Coast. Her Nanna hosted a lunch birthday party at her home, and it was wonderful! Evie DID NOT smash her cake and wanted pretty much nothing to do with it. I guess I should have gotten chocolate, because she inhaled an andes mint chocolate cookie half that Santa left on Christmas.

At 12 months, Evie is blowing kisses with the back of her hand and lots of sound affects! MmmmWahhh!!! She received 2 baby dolls and a doll stroller for Christmas, and she loves to carry her babies around and hug them and push them in the stroller. She also likes to try out their pacifiers! She is all about a ball these days and wants someone to roll a ball back and forth with her. She has started doing what Sullivan calls "the adorable thing" which is basically a hug. She comes and lays her head on your leg, the dog, the cat, the baby doll, the whatever! It really is adorable, and even more so when Sullivan calls out, "Mom, she's doing the adorable thing again!". She also loves to read books at night, and will often just sit on the floor and read/jibber jabber to herself as she flips the pages. Her current favorites are Pout Pout Fish, Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish, Barnyard Buddies, or any of the books that have different textures to feel.

Food is touch and go. Some days she likes baby food, some days she shakes her head no. She absolutely, DOES NOT like milk. I have tried different percentage cow's milks, unsweetened almond milk, sweetened almond milk, formula, even chocolate milk. Nada. I never in a million years imagined the joy and accomplishment of breastfeeding would be so hard for HER to quit. I took for granted that she would just like milk and switch with no problems. HA! So, I'm still pumping during the day for her and nursing at night. This is my last go round, so trying to savor it anyway.

Evie can definitely understand so much of what we say to her now. She will retrieve items you ask her for and respond to questions with a shake of the head when appropriate. She's so happy most of the time (except when fighting new teeth or ears), and will typically play happily where ever we are. She loves to hang in our bathroom while we get ready and turn on (and off, and on, and off, and on) the water in our bathtub.

She loves her brother so much. She calls for him first thing in the morning, and gets to incredibly excited whenever he walks in the room. He is so protective of her, and typically, very inclusive. I think he enjoys having someone to boss around, and she sits patiently and enjoys it.