Little Lermas!: Aubrey 12 Months!!

Well, I knew this day would come sooner than I expected, and here we are! Aubrey is ONE!

It has been a pure joy to watch this little one grow up over the last year. She started out as a 5 lb 13 oz tiny little peanut, and has grown into quite the fun, funny, feisty, dance and music loving, crazy little lady!! Watching her grow into her own personality has amazed us this year. Watching her and Isabella develop a big sister/little sister relationship has been endearing.

Aubrey Lynn, you are our most favorite surprise, and are so grateful you made us a Mama and Daddy again!

Happy 12 Months Aubrey!

I mean seriously, I could eat up this little nugget! SO precious!

12 Month Highlights:

-You have started repeating a lot of words lately, and now say about 5 consistently: Dada, Mama, Bye, Hi, & "AhDa" (all done). You still only sign "All Done" but we are working more on please and thank you.

-We ran a 5K as a family, including Mimi, Pops, Tia, Uncle G, Dani, and the Leflers. You hated being bundled up and kept trying to bust out of the stroller blanket, but you loved the Christmas Lights throughout the race!

-You have grown even more in your love for music, singing and dancing! You shake your head and upper body as soon as you hear music you like which is too cute. Just mentioning "Boom Shakalaka" to you gets you moving like crazy! And I love singing and rocking you before bedtime lately because you just sing along (usually "Ahhhhhhhh" really loud) the entire time! So cute!

-We celebrated Thanksgiving this year at our house with Mimi, Pops, Tia, Uncle G and Dani. For the first time in 3 years, the adults had a great time! It felt equal parts fun, relaxing, and of course tiring by the end (probably b/c of all the food consumed!). We had Thanksgiving brunch at 10am and you gobbled up some spinach and artichoke quiche. We then put the big girls down for naps and ate Thanksgiving "dinner" around 2:30. You loved sitting in the high chair at the adult table, and while you didn't eat a ton (most of it got thrown on the floor), I think you just enjoyed being a part of the action while the other girls were sleeping! Unfortunately this was the only picture we got...gheesh!

-The day after Thanksgiving we put up the tree while listening to Christmas music, and no surprise to us, you LOVED it! You just sat dancing to the music, and once we turned the lights on you were so excited! We are teaching you "touch with one finger" and so far you have done a great job (AKA no broken ornaments)...yet! I have a feeling there may be some casualties this year with you around : )

Sleeping: You have gotten a bit more consistent this last month in the sleep department. You go to bed around 6:45 or 7pm and sleep until about 6:30 or 7am, with a 3am wake up to eat (and the occasional midnight feed prior to that).

Naps are still a bit irregular, particularly in the afternoon, and a few times I have been tempted to just try and transition you to one nap, but I still feel like it's too early for you. Most days you take your morning nap around 9 or 9:30 and sleep for 1-2 hours. At least once a week though you decide you are good after 30 or 40 minutes. Lovely. Depending on the length of the morning nap you will sleep in the afternoon for 30 min to an hour (on good days!), usually about 3 hours after you wake up from the first. You are definitely NOT a good napper!

For as happy and easy going of a baby you are, you certainly wake up crying a majority of the time. You do NOT like to be in your crib for one minute after your eyes pop open, and you certainly make it known quickly! This is particularly true after your afternoon nap, but really any wake up can go like this! You still cry a few minutes occasionally prior to sleeping (mostly the afternoon nap), but for the most part this month you have been much easier to put down.

Breastfeeding & Eating: Oh boy, you LOVE your milkies. As much as I am looking forward to weaning, I know you will probably boycot that move! You have been eating 4-5 times a day, and honestly would probably eat 7 or 8 if I let you still. However, we have been trying to encourage more solid foods in attempts to wean a little bit easier. For now, we will keep your night feed(s), usually at 3 am and occasionally at midnight as well, just because it is easier for Mama to breastfeed you, rather than go downstairs and make a bottle! But the 3ish daytime feeds will be eliminated one per week over the next 3 weeks. We shall see how that goes!

As for eating: you have gotten very picky this month! You like about 4 things- avacado, greek yogurt, strawberries, & bananas. Otherwise it just depends on the day whether you will eat squeezies, cheese, nuggets, rotisserie chicken, eggs, or cheerios. And pretty much on any given day you will promptly spit out or throw on the ground any vegetable I try to give you, including carrots, potatoes or sweet potatoes. Oh boy!

Aubrey Loves:
-Running, walking, trying to climb, and getting into everything

-Singing with us

-Dancing...she loves the "Boom Shakalaka" dance!

-Swinging

-Being outside, taking walks

Aubrey Hates:

-Having things taken away from her

-Being told "No"

12 Month Stats:

Height: 28.5 in (25th percentile)

Weight: 18.5 lb (10th percentile)

*Still in size 3 diapers