Amelia's 11th & 12th Months

Stats: (Measurements taken 12 month check up)

• 20.8 pounds (70%)
• 31 inches long (99%) 

Eating:

• 6 oz of formula three times a day (before naps and bed) and one 6 oz. bottle during the night at some point
• Soup is her favorite food. She loves every kind she's had. Chicken noodle, taco, black bean, chili, chicken stew are all in regular rotation. Blueberries and strawberries are her 2nd favorite. She still hates butternut squash enormously.
• She says "MMMM" very appreciatively whenever she see's any food. And even when you set her down in her high chair she just starts saying "Mmmm. Mmmmm." So cute.

Sleeping:

• 2 solid naps a day--one around 9 AM and another around 3 PM. I just give her a bottle and lay her down in her crib and she puts herself to sleep. Love her.
• Bed time at 8:00 PM. Bath, books, lay her down with a bottle and we're golden. 
• She still wakes up at least once a night. Sometimes twice. She just wants a bottle and some cuddles, and then she goes right back to sleep. And I'm totally okay with it. I'll take any cuddle time I can get.

Wearing:

• Size 4 diapers
• 12 month onsies, 12 month dresses, 18 month sleepers/rompers, and 18 month pants. That baby is one tall glass of water.

Tricks and Miscellaneous Skills:

• Started walking at 10.5 months. We were FaceTime-ing with my parents one Sunday, and they asked if she could take a few steps. She had been taking one or two steps from the couch to my arms, so I propped her up to show them...and she just took off! She would just run for 4-5 steps and then fall flat on her face. She was so proud. She figured out how to go between the two couches and she loved when my parents would clap for her. Little show off.
• She loves to clap and say YAY! whenever she does something good
• She can find your nose, mouth, eyes, and ears, and she loves to show you her belly button. If you say the word "belly" in front of her she'll try to rip her shirt off to show you her cute pouchy belly. 
• She learned what monkey's say, and for a while she would run around the house going "AH! AH! AH!". She can also say "woof" and "meow". 
• She loves to dance. Whenever she hears music with a nice beat she'll start shaking her little booty and clapping. "Old Macdonald" and "Happy and You Know It" are her favorites.
• She loves her little play kitchen and will bring me her tiny apron to wear. She likes to pretend to eat the wooden food and makes the best fake eating "chomp chomp" sounds.
• She can say "Preeeetty" but only if she really thinks something is pretty. We were looking through the manual at church and Kendal would find a page with a picture. If it was colorful and fun, she would say "preeeety" but if it was an old man she would shake her head "no".
• She figured out climbing and I'm not a fan.
• Sometimes she goes into bite attack mode, and I don't know what to do. She normally listens when we say "No." but if she's in attack mode she can't be stopped. It's not malicious....she just wants to eat you? She'll bite the couch and the floor too so....maybe her teeth hurt? I'm at a loss.
• She adores her stuffed animals and baby dolls. Kristen/Liam gave her a little doll and stroller for her birthday and she is obsessed. You can ask her "where's your baby?" and she'll run off to find it, bring her back giving the sweetest hugs and kisses to her little doll. Heart melting, I tell you.

Amelia Kate turns ONE

Okay, so Amelia turned one last weekend. I understand the concept of time and all, but seriously. How the heck has it been a year?

I wasn't planning on doing a party. But then I thought about it some more, and I decided we just couldn't let this milestone pass us by completely. So, we had a little party and tried to keep it simple. Just a few close friends and family, cupcakes and root beer floats.

My in-laws not only hosted the party in their awesome backyard, but they added a little cookout to the mix. They are the best. We had hamburgers/sausage dogs, baked beans, and homemade potato salad, all thanks to them. I don't really cook anymore...

I don't really craft anymore either, ha. But luckily I have two amazing sisters to do that for me. Kourtney and Jackie made the ribbon banner during our sisters week in Texas (technically I intended to help, but sitting on the couch was so, so nice...). After I left, they made mini glitter party hats, and the cutest cupcake topper flags too. And then shipped them to us in time for the party. I love them more than words can express.

I listed a few other party details below the photos, for those that are into that kind of thing.

Party highlights:

• Amelia learned that cupcakes are delicious. She was highly confused at first, but once she got a good taste she clapped her hands, and then tensed up her whole body with pure joy. Then she ate almost the entire thing. She was covered in frosting and so, so happy.
• The kids wearing the mini party hats were basically the best thing ever. So tiny. So cute.
• Freya and Lily were in town!! A little piece of my heart has been missing ever since Freya moved to Birmingham, but the birthday party stars aligned and they just happened to be in town last weekend and came to the party! And all was right with the world. 
• I forgot my camera...I know. But I called the aforementioned Freya, who had hers. So she saved the day, and all the pictures were taken by her :)
• The pool water was a little bit frigid, but the tiny kids pool (which Freya was generous enough to pick up that morning at Target---so, technically she saved the day TWICE.) was a hit for sure. At one point Amelia sat in the tiny pool her in giant float and just looked so pleased. I mean, she the float took up the whole thing, but I guess she figured it was her party so she could so what she wanted.
• Ava and Cole were brave enough to jump in the freezing water, and they had a ball...until they started shivering uncontrollably. I got in for a second with Amelia, and quickly decided the pain wasn't worth it. Maybe we're pansies, but that water was stinking cold.
• Liam and Amelia hugged goodbye which was so adorable. And Amelia thought it was so great.  And then she kissed him (a recently acquired skill). And she thought was great. And then things got a little awkward, but still very cute... ha.
• Amelia let Lara hold her for a bit! This was a breakthrough for them. 

Afterwards Amelia let Grandpa take her upstairs and hold her while she napped for about 4 hours. So, I'd say the party was a success. Happy birthday sweet, sweet girl. We're so glad you're ours.

Freya ALSO edited out the personal information from the invite. Because safety. So make that saved the day three times...

Invitations:
Printed on Kraft card stock from Michaels
Fonts used: KG Eyes Wide Open, Bergamot Ornaments, Century Gothic

Menu:
Hamburgers/Sausage dogs
Baked Beans
Homemade Potato Salad
Fruit Salad
Vanilla Cupcakes (From Publix Bakery)
Root beer floats (with Blue Bell ice cream. Is there any other kind, really?)

Activities:
Swimming
Stuffing our faces
Photo Booth (we used Instax Fugifilm (leftover from our wedding 4 years ago) and the pictures became the party favors)

Decor:
Ribbon banner handmade by Kourtney's Kreations
Mini Glitter Party Hats by Kourtney's Kreations
Flag Cupcake toppers by Kourtney's Kreations
Dried Billy Ball flowers (Hammelmans LLC)
Large letter A covered in Yarn (Supplies from Joann Fabrics)
Stained crates (purchased unfinished at Michaels)
Polka dot paper runner, Target Wrapping paper