One Year Stats

A classic Helena face

We have a happy and healthy baby on our hands! 

18 pounds 14 ounces (36th percentile)

30 inches (80th percentile)

44.6 cm head circumference (41st percentile)

5 teeth (we had no clue that 5th tooth was in there! {top left})

It seems to me that since turning one Helena has taken a huge leap in what she picks up on and her personality.  I look at her now and she’s no longer a baby.  It’s a true miracle to see her grow but also puts a huge need of baby fever!  I’m somewhat depressed right now with things going on in my family and the fact that this time last year I wasn’t at work, I was on maternity leave spending the days caring for my newborn.  Having last summer off was so wonderful, I just wish I could have this summer off too.  Simply put: I yearn to be home.  Leaving for work is so hard.  I’ve thought a lot about how I can put it into words.  Helena is such a huge part of who I am.  She came from me, she is one of my main priorities in life, my love for her grows daily.  And to leave that part of me (such a huge part) behind daily to go to work is hard.  It’s like I’m leaving a part of me behind.  A big part.  I’m sad because she’s not near me and because someone else is part of her day, and that someone isn’t me.  It should be me.  It’s hard to breath when your heart isn’t with you.  And to me my daughter is my heart.  Hopefully those words can do some justice to what I’m feeling when I’m not taking care of my daughter while I’m at work. 

In addition to missing her I’m pretty sure we have a genius child on our hands.  I know every parent thinks their child is smart, but Helena is learning so much!  She can point to her socks/feet, and belly. She just recently started giving kisses (I seriously fell in love all over again)!  We got balloons for her birthday and a couple are still floating around the house and we’ll ask her to go get her balloon, and she’ll go get it!  Keep in mind, that prior to her birthday she had never played with a balloon before.  The other night I went to check in on her bath time and asked her if she brushed her teeth, and she immediately found her toothbrush and started brushing her teeth.  We’ll ask if she wants to sing the “A, B, C’s” and she’ll start with the “Aaa” sound.  And sorta sing along while we sing.  When her food is too hot at meal time I’ll blow on it, and she started mimicking blowing and it’s super cute.  She’ll make a “click click” noise with her tongue in her mouth and “kiss” noise with her lips.  She’s also tried to make a “fish face”.   She’ll drop her sippy cup/spoon/food onto the floor and say “uh oh”.  When she sneezes and we say “bless you” she’ll say “thank you”.  Or when we sneeze she’ll say “bless you”. 

She has started cow’s milk and the transition is going great.  She still gets some formula at night, and we’re really only giving it to her because we have it left to use.  We’ve also changed her nighttime routine and eliminated the bottle except for the formula she gets at night. 

I’m hoping she’ll start picking up signs soon.  I think she knows “all done” and “milk”.  We’re working on “food/eat” and “more”. 

She’s taking more and more steps daily.  She can’t stand up by herself (only when pulling herself up on something) but I think she’ll be there soon.  It’ll be crazy once her preferred method is walking over crawling. 

She’s still a super loud eater and a good eater in general.  It crazy the noises she makes.  And she’s still a great sleeper.  She’s comfortably in size 12 clothes and still in size 3 diapers.  She’s grown attached to “Mr. Owl” which is super cute and she’s officially in a convertible car seat.  

Each day is such a blessing and her laugh is still one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.