12months old!

Lily, you are 12 months old now! Your first trip around the sun is complete - and what a journey it has been.

You came into this world at 7lbs and 19.5 inches, and already you've grown to 20lbs and 30 inches, with a size 5 shoe (at least, yesterday that was accurate!). Your hair has lightened some but your eyes have stayed that grey blue they were when we first looked at you.

You have the best disposition and attitude we could ask for... a keen sense of humor, a love of music, a patience with others, and the fine ability to entertain yourself happily with little. You love hugs, signing, Engine, nursing, Daddy's cereal, and waking up next to us. You like biking, walks with Daddy, playing airplane with Mommy, calling people on the phone (and then being silent), reading books, and playing with friends.

You're not afraid of the camera, of church nursery, or trying new things. You love to mimic, which has made you a fantastic communicator already. At one year old, you know so many words: nurse, more, hungry, eat, cracker, thank you, please, hat, head, love, up, open, tooth, hurt, brush (teeth), where, what, bird, dog, cat, lion (followed by a tiny "roar!"), Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, baby, milk, drink, eye, flower, touch...

You're starting to voice some new words too, to add to Dada, Mama, and cat; cracker, Engine, yes, up, uh-oh, eye, that, hat, and dog.

You are our beautiful little girl, and we love you so much. To which you'd most certainly sign back, "love, love, love." And oh, how much we love that when you do!