Happy 1st Birthday, Kyndall Anne!!!

Dear Sweet Kyndall,

Today marks exactly one year since the Lord gave us the most precious gift we could ever ask for or imagine---YOU!  The day you were born was the most wonderful day of my life and I will cherish the memories I have of that day forever.  I've never written down my version of how it all took place, so I think I'll do that for you in a separate post later today.  But for now, I sit here thinking about that day and wondering how a year has passed so quickly.  Now I know why everyone was always telling me to "enjoy every moment, because it goes by fast."  They were right, and thankfully I took their advice and I have cherished every single day since September 20th, 2010.  We've had good days and bad days, silly days and sad days, but I've been thankful for all of them.

I guess now that you're a year old, we should to refer to you as a toddler rather than a baby.  Don't be surprised if Mommy still calls you my baby, though.  You'll always be my baby.  You are so much fun these days and I'm really enjoying watching you develop your own little personality.  We won't visit Dr. Traynham for your one year check up until next week, so I still don't have any stats to report.  I'm taking a wild guess and estimating that you may weigh somewhere around 19 pounds, but I really have no idea.  I guess we'll find out next week!  For now, here's what I DO know.....

*First and foremost, you had your very first birthday party last weekend!  We celebrated your special day with about 60 of our family members and close friends with a watermelon themed birthday party.  It was a great day and everyone seemed to have a great time.  You are loved, that's for sure!

*You still don't have a single tooth, but that hasn't kept you from eating everything in sight!  Some new things you've tried are: scrambled eggs, waffles, grilled chicken, grapes, oatmeal, cheese toast, ground beef, baked potato, soup, chicken and rice, spaghetti o's, pork chop, yogurt, vanilla wafers, and of course birthday cake, just to name a few!  There doesn't seem to be anything you don't like, but your favorites are still applesauce, mac and cheese and bananas.  I think you would live off those three things if Mommy and Daddy would let you!

*You are COMPLETELY done with formula and we are soooo happy about that!  You now drink organic whole milk twice a day, 7 ounces in the morning and 7 ounces at night.  During the day you drink juice and water from your sippy cup.  You've gotten really good at using a straw too! 

*You aren't walking yet, but hopefully it won't be long.  Everyone tells me not to rush it, but I'm anxious to see you bee-bopping around on those giant feet that you inherited from Mommy!  (sorry!)

*You recognize and remember things in ways I didn't realize were possible.  For example, you don't pay much attention to most cartoons on TV, but if you see the beginning credits for the "I Love My Lips" Veggie Tales Sing-Along DVD, your eyes immediately light up and you start laughing and clapping!  How in the world do you know the difference from one cartoon to the next?  You also recognize and remember foods.  Today I put chicken, butter beans and mac and cheese on your tray.  You intentionally left the butter beans, but had completely devoured the other two things.  Funny girl!!

*You're still wearing a lot of 9 month clothes, although 12 months is starting to fit now too.  You are still in a size 3 diaper and a size 3 shoe---although I think you'll be in a size 4 shoe before long!  Geez!

*Two weeks ago we got your ears pierced!  Although you didn't enjoy the experience, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  You've received lots of compliments on your new bling!

*Some new tricks include:  Saying "Mama" (although not very often!), Waving bye bye, blowing kisses (kind of), clapping and playing patty-cake, feeding yourself, and putting your feet up on the tray of your high chair. 

*You usually go to bed around 9:30 at night, and sleep until around 8:30 in the morning.  You've recently started sleeping on your tummy, which is something you used to HATE.  You take two naps a day, usually around 11:30 am and another around 5:00 pm.  As long as you have your paci and your "lovey", you're super easy to put down!  In the past few weeks I've noticed that when you're sleepy, you wrap your fingers around your paci and hold onto it while it's in your mouth.  I'm not sure why, but it's always a sure sign that you're ready for bed!  I think it's really cute!

*This past Sunday, I left you with your very first babysitter!  Until then, only the Grandparents and Aunt Kelly had kept you.  You stayed with Mrs. Shanna and Mr. Johnny for about 4 hours while Mommy, Grammy and Aunt Kelly went to a movie.  You did GREAT, and that made me so proud!

*Everyone thinks it's hilarious that you "hum" while you eat.  It never fails.  Every time we feed you (or you feed yourself), you make a "mmmmmmm" sound the entire time!  I think it's your way of telling us you like what you're eating!  Everywhere we go, people notice it and think it's funny!

*You had your first experience in the church nursery a couple of weeks ago and you did great!  You're getting a little too chatty to stay in the service with Mommy and Daddy, so I think you'll be spending your Sunday mornings in the nursery from now on.

*Until now, Mommy and Daddy have kept a daily care chart for you where we recorded what you ate, how long you slept, when you had your diaper changed, etc.  I now have 365 pages of precious memories that I plan to keep and look back on someday.  I think that after today, I will stop the daily care chart since you're no longer a baby.  This makes Mommy sort of sad. 

*You meet no strangers and you love to flirt with everyone.  It doesn't take much for you to flash your big gummy grin to anyone who looks your way.  You aren't attached to Mommy or Daddy and you'll go to anyone who wants to hold you with no problem at all.  I am SO thankful for this!!  I never have to worry about you getting upset when I leave your sight.

*Some of your favorite things to do are:  Watch your shows and movies (Veggie Tales, Sesame Street, Dinosaur Train and Baby Einstein being your favorites), going for rides in your new wagon, sitting in the grass and touching it/pulling it up, riding in the shopping carts, playing rough with Daddy (being thrown in the air, and other such things that make Mommy nervous), reading books, rocking in your new rocking chair, playing with paper or plastic or anything else that makes a noise when crumpled, taking baths, and playing quietly on the floor with your toys.

*In the next few days, we'll be switching you from your infant carseat to a "real" carseat!  You'll still be rear-facing for another year, but I think you'll enjoy the comforts of a bigger seat!

Mommy and Daddy are SO proud of you!!  Every little thing you do, no matter how small or how silly, makes us so happy!  You are by far the sweetest and easiest baby, and everyone tells us so.  You make everyone around you smile and you continue to live up to your nickname of the "Giggle Princess".  I can't even imagine my life without you, nor can I remember my life before you.  It's like you've always been here, but at the same time, it seems like just yesterday that we met you for the first time.  Either way, I am thankful for every day that I have with you.  We can't wait to celebrate many more birthdays with you!  But for now, please read the lyrics and listen to this Taylor Swift song.  It's called "Never Grow Up" and I feel like it was written just for you!

Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older, too
And don't lose the way that you dance around
In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have
Is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even through to you want to
Please try to never grow up

Don't you ever grow up
Never grow up
Just never grow up

And because Mommy LOVES comparison pictures, here's a look back at your monthly pictures, starting at 4 months.  (Mommy wishes I had started doing this when you were younger, but I didn't get the idea until you were already 4 months old.)

Happy birthday, sweet girl!!!  I love you!!!!