- 12 Month Well-Baby Check-up: For her 1 year check-up, Mellany weighed in at a whopping 18lb 10oz and measured 29 1/2 in long! She is a tiny but long girl. I was the worst mama ever that day because I scheduled her check-up on her actual birthday and she had to get 5 shots and a finger prick to check for anemia. She took the vaccines like a champ once again with only a little crying......thank goodness for the AMAZING nurse we had. She was VERY quick and efficient. Grammy was in town for Mellany's birthday so she was able to go with us once again and helped with distraction. The doctor was really impressed with Mellany's growth and development and we couldn't have been more proud. The doctor informed us that we can stop the formula (we chose to do this gradually) and transition to whole milk. When it was time for the finger prick, it didn't go quite as smooth. The nurse was great but Mellany did not like the squeezing on her finger. Then, as soon as the nurse put on the band-aid, Mellany ripped it off and proceeded to put it in her mouth. Blood was gushing (literally--babies' blood is so fast!) and M was once again screaming. The nurse bandaged it again and M successfully ripped it of too. Third time is a charm though because on the 3rd try, the bandage stayed on. Mellany continued to cry for a little while longer. But once we got her into the car, she was out. She slept for quite a while once we got home even.....poor baby!!
- Sleeping Patterns: Mellany is sleeping the same as last month. A nap in the morning for an hour and a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon. At night, she will be in bed around 8 and wake up in the morning around 6:30/7. She only takes her binky when she sleeps and she really loves snuggling with her bunny. Occasionally she will wake up in the night/early morning and want to snuggle with us in bed, and we love when that happens! We know that the days are numbered as to how much more that will last, so we will take it anytime!
- Eating Habits: Mellany is trying all sorts of food! She is loving the people food/finger foods and we are giving her more and more of it! She is still taking the bottle about 4 times a day, but we will slowly be phasing that out once she gets used to whole milk. I don't think that phasing it out will be a problem because she doesn't really seem that attached to it.
- New foods: There are way too many new foods to count. But, one of her newest favorites is macaroni and cheese. Though this isn't brand new, she has started eating it as a finger food and loves it! She also recently tried pot roast carrots and gobbled those right down. She still loves any kind of fruit and could continuously eat her cheerios and puffs.
- New discoveries: Magnets. For Mellany's birthday she got a magnetic barn with farm animals that makes sound, that sticks on the refrigerator. She plays with the barn constantly. She will take the animals/magnets off the fridge and stick them back on; off and on; over and over!
- Accomplishments: Mellany has taken up to 5/6 steps at one time! She is slowly but surely "getting it" and I have no doubt that she will be walking very shortly. She absolutely loves to walk while holding your hands and just giggles the whole time she does. Mellany has also mastered climbing stairs; she's pretty quick!
- Places she traveled: KC for her first birthday party!!
- Special friends/Favorite toys: Mellany got a couple of baby dolls for her birthday and will hardly put them down. She absolutely loves them and kisses them both all the time. She also got a couple of puppies that make sounds and play music and she plays with them often too. Her books are still her absolute favorite I would say, as is any kind of ball she can get her hands on, her Leap Frog phone and play table.
- Baby Babbles: Though she hasn't really started saying anything new this past month, the words that she does say are becoming more clear. And her ramblings/babbles are becoming more conversation like than just sounds.
- She is wearing mostly 12 month clothes right now. Though, most 12 month pants aren't fitting her itty bitty waist, so those are mostly 6-9/9 month sizes.
- Anytime music comes on, Mellany is dancing! She loves to dance and I can't wait to catch it on camera.....every time I get the camera out, she stops! She has even figured out how to "bob" her head back and forth.
- She has learned to "click" her tongue on the roof of her mouth and does it often
- We can finally pull her hair back in a "pony". She has started pulling out her hair bows, so I'm thankful we can pull her hair back. She doesn't seem to mess with it like she does bows.
- She is slowly becoming better with the sippy cup
- Her favorite game is peek-a-boo; though she really likes to be chased too
- Kisses are constant. She will give anyone and everyone kisses if they ask. Recently she has even given a few hugs!
- While picking out her clothes in the morning, she totally demolishes the shoe organization in her closet. She plays with them until we leave the room, including while I dress her.
- If Mellany doesn't like or doesn't want to do something, you will know it. She has developed quite the attitude at times and will cry and/or arch her back to let you know she doesn't like/want it!
- Mellany does not like:
- Eating one thing at a time; she likes variety. Especially if she is eating a vegetable.
- When you get up from the table at a restaurant and go to the bathroom. She will scream!
- Changing her diaper if she is playing/busy
- Bo is her best bud. She pets him and leans on him constantly. She has even tried to give him a kiss or two....it is so sweet
Overall, Mellany is an absolutely content, observant, happy baby and we are so blessed to have her in our lives. She makes us laugh and smile every day and we are constantly saying how sweet she is. As parents, we couldn't have asked for a better first year. We love you Miss M!!
12 Month Photo Shoot
This month, I had my mom and Johnny helping me and it was still pretty difficult to get good shots. She was literally ALL OVER the bed. I think for the next child, we'll pick a different spot. :-)
I had to get a few shots of the way Mellany "babied" her finger while her bandage was on. She wouldn't eat with that hand, wouldn't walk along tables with that hand, etc. It was quite amusing!
Exhausted from the vaccines
Dinner at El Maguey.....eating chips for the first time!
A post-birthday treat. While in downtown Kearney shopping on her actual birthday, we stopped in a cake shop to get a snack. They gave Mellany her first cupcake, which she enjoyed the following day!
A snapshot of Mellany enjoying one ofher birthday toys.....her fridge barn and animals!
Enjoying her baby dolls and puppies!
