Letter to Rua - 12 months (One Year!!)

October 5, 2015

Dearest Rua,

My sweet little girl, how did this happen? You are one year old!! This weekend has been full of reminiscing back to one year ago. The anticipation and excitement as labor started, then me pushing through the pain, and the incredible moment when I first laid eyes on you. You were so beautiful and precious. And it's been such an incredible journey this past year as you have grown and learned and emerged as a little person with a mind of your own, and a gorgeous smile always at the ready. Rua, you have absolutely stolen our hearts.

What an exciting month this has been. Biggest news? You took your very first steps! Those hesitant, unsteady steps happened two weeks ago and now you are already steady enough to walk across a room. It's exciting and you are so proud.

You have learned how to clap this month and you just love to clap for yourself. 'If you're happy and you know it' is your favorite song right now because you can clap all through the song. You still love to wave bye and hello, all the time. Along these same lines, you finally had your first signs this month. You have a very energetic 'all done' and you can sign 'fan' and 'more' (I think). So we'll have to keep up with the signing since it seems to finally be clicking.

You now say 'da', 'ma', 'ah', 'ba', 'yah' but 'oh' is your absolute favorite. You pucker up your lips, lean your head back and say the cutest 'oh.' Love it.

You are slightly more interested in books. You will sit and let me read at least a few pages of your little board books to you. Hopefully you will start loving books because that is just about all you got for your birthday this year. :) You do love to pull all the books down from bookshelves though. Of course, who wouldn't?

You are a crazy little climber. Ever since you discovered steps and stairs a couple months ago you always make a beeline for them. But now if there is anything that has any remote possibility of acting as a step, you try to lift your little leg on top. Step stools cannot be left out, way too tempting for you. Boxes or packages are very exciting. You climbed all the way up to Abby's bed because her potty chair was left too close to her bed. That was super fun for you.

You absolutely love Abby's baby dolls, you drag one around with you all the time. Abby has gotten better about sharing or rather, tolerating you borrowing her dolls, but really we just need to get you your own. I was thinking Christmas, by maybe it should be sooner!

You love necklaces, purses, bags, backpacks - anything you can drape over your neck or carry on your arm

You are your sister's favorite person. (most of the time)

                             

                                                 

And you are one of my two favorite little people also. I love you so much. I am so grateful for this past year because you were in it.

Love,

Your Mamma