Best Moments

My father-in-law said recently that he had three best moments in his life.  (One being LO's Christening and the other two are classified).  It got me thinking what mine would be.  Thirteen months ago I probably could've named them, but ever since LO came around there's an endless list of new ones.  Sweetheart, today when I was stretching in the dining room and you surprised me with an upside down "Boo!" and laughed hysterically in my face, that was one of those moments.  One of the happiest moments of my life.  I can't explain why, but I was acutely aware of it at the time.  It was this overwhelming feeling, much like when you were born and like I've continued to experience since.  This must be the love of a parent, which grows like a seed each day.  Each day when you wake I look forward to another happiest moment in my life.  You're sleeping now, and although I don't know what tomorrow holds, I do know that with you in it, every moment will be the best.

My New Push Cart!

We made a family outing to Ikea to get a desk for the house.  Ikea outings are always regrettable and this one was no different.  It was raining and crowded in Burbank and it took us way too long to get there.  Then LO needed a diaper change upon arrival.  Cut to fifteen minutes later all three of us waiting outside the family changing room waiting for it to become available.  We knocked, some frazzled mom yelled back and we gave up, opting for the more crowded bathroom area upstairs.  No mystery meatballs were consumed on this trip, thank God.  It's a last resort kind of thing where you're racing to get there, traffic takes forever and you don't have time to eat lunch and then you pass by the cafeteria and think why not?  If it's good enough for the Swedes...

We're suckers for the baby/kids section, where we found a cute little push cart.  LO is trying to walk, so this would be perfect for her to stretch her legs with.  You're supposed to put things in it and push them around, but LO spends copious amounts of time squeezing herself into it with and without toys.  She thinks it's hilarious when we push her around the house in it.  If only our stroller had been that inexpensive.

Vocabulary at 12 Months

LO has developed a nice little vocabulary over the past few months.  Seems like every day she adds to it.  Here's what she's saying.  (Each of these involves a lot of pointing and air swallowing excitement):

Baby
Bye bye
Hi
Woo woo (woof woof for doggies)
Mow (meow for kitties)
Ba (ball)
Ba (bottle)
Boo (bird)
Poo (when she farts)
Ma ma
Uh oh

Baby is probably her favorite.  She points to babies when we're out, babies on food packaging, wipes, diapers boxes, you name it.  She even points to herself in the mirror and to photos of herself on my phone and says clear as a bell, "Ba-by."  It's thrilling to have this new ability to communicate.  It's also scary to see how quickly she's processing language and understanding things I say.  Now I have to extricate my favorite curse words from my vocabulary for fear she'll end up like the baby in "Meet the Fockers."

What will LO's next word be?  It could be "fish" because they're her favorites and she makes the "f" sound when she sees them.  Whatever it is, I can't wait to find out.

Birthday Girl!

Happy First Birthday to our little sweetheart!  We decided to forego a big party and spent the time and money on LO instead.  I have to say, it was a good choice.  We started the day with lunch in Brentwood, then to the Skirball Center's Noah's Ark, which is an interactive exhibit of animals inside a walk-in ark.  LO loved it even though she can't walk yet.  She pushed the grocery cart like a champ and reviled in taking out the fake vegetables.  (She's really into taking things out of things right now, which means you constantly have to put them back in).

She took to the wooden giraffe next to the dog and proceeded to crawl back and forth between the two, pointing with excitement each time and saying "Woo woo."  That's "woof woof" to her.

We finished the day at home opening presents.  LO's eyes practically popped out of her head at the sight of the red velvet cupcake with a lit candle in it.  We shared the cupcake and everybody went to bed.  It was the perfect first birthday.