1-year update

At 1, Lydia is still our curious little monkey - and getting more curious every day.  Our new bedtime routine consists of reading books and playing on the bed in Lydia's room. She really enjoys looking out the window at the people and the dogs.

And she also likes chewing on the window {which we definitely discourage except for this one photo}.

She has really started pointing, especially when we are in the backyard - our next door neighbors have 2 dogs ... she points and says "Dow. Dow. Dow." until you take her over there to see them. Which is exactly the same thing she did the first time Ashley took her to the dog park a few weeks ago ...

Not surprisingly, she really loves the dog park, much like her older sister. And, as you can see, she now stands readily at the fence watching them play, though she does get apprehensive if they get too close.

She is still as happy as ever, and now she laughs more, smiles more, and giggles frequently at her sister.

She is also very quick to let you know if she disapproves of something or wants something you've just removed from her vicinity -- immediate tears and frustrated crying ensues.

She has been crawling for a while now and pulling up on everything that she can.

She now stands quite well and walks assisted for a very long time. She can also take about 8 steps by herself!

She loves books - playing with them, eating them, turning the pages, and sitting in your lap and having you read (with Eden close by).

And she LOVES the driving carts at Whole Foods. She sits quite well and rides around the store with Eden, driving and waving and smiling.

While we are there we usually eat lunch or dinner - she especially likes the cold English peas, pizza, macaroni&cheese and ...

... (to my dismay) the chocolate ice cream that Ashley let her taste! She begged for more ice cream more than once.

Here is what we look like, daddy and daughters {with E wearing her momma's watch} at the grocery!

Most days now, L is awake around 6 or 6:30 and making noise around 7 when we get her up and give her a bottle {of warm, whole milk!}. Then a bit later she has breakfast and plays for a few hours. It seems she is going longer and longer in the mornings before getting tired. She'll take an hour long nap in the morning play and have lunch after, and then she's ready for a bottle, rocking, and a nap by mid-afternoon. Then we're doing dinner, playing, bathtime, books, bottle and in the bed usually by 7:45.

Poor thing has already had two ear infections and is fighting some sort of cold/fever this weekend. We're hoping it clears up soon without another ear infection as a byproduct.

Some of her favorite things now are swinging in the backyard, pushing the doll stroller, handing us things one at a time from a basket {her smile lights up when you say "thank you, Lydia"}, and walking a few steps to our arms. Life is good.