I wouldn't have it any other way.

You're trying to repeat everything. It's amazing. It's awesome to me to see you making all of these opinions and see this new personality coming through.

Netflix has a bunch of Disney movies now, which I love. We spent WEEKS watching the 4 Tinkerbell movies in a cycle. You couldn't get enough of those pixies. Those movies switched something on in you. You started mimicking the fairies mannerisms and even started saying lines from the movie as they were happening.

With every year that passes I'm more amazed by you. I suppose that's the best part of being here; being your mom. I get to see the world in new an amazing ways. I get to watch you become less of a part of me and yet still see so much of myself in you.

I appreciate all of the work I've been doing with you and for you. Although sometimes it's frustrating when we hit a barrier, getting over those obstacles is more than awesome. I have to remind myself when I get frustrated that we can't understand each other that you really have come SO FAR! You can't tell us what you want all of the time, but we can figure it out about 50% of the time.

All of these struggles and victories make me so grateful for you, so thankful for all of the people who have helped us get to this point.

More growing up.

We ditched the pacifier cold turkey exactly 16 days ago.

I'm still going to call it cold turkey even thought daddy caved and gave it to you one night so I could sleep and two nights ago you found it and stuffed it in your sweet little pie hole.

You never had a name for it, so you don't ask for it. There are two things that I have noticed though; I can no longer move a sleeping you from a car to a crib, you wake up as soon as any part of you touches the mattress; aaaaaand nap time is now the bane of my exsistence. As soon as I tell you it's time for night night/naps you start with the crocodile tears and the marathon around the house trying to outrun me. It's hilarous and heartbreaking all at once. You cry and yell when I have to put you in your crib, sometimes I even get hit or pinched.

I know that it will stop, eventually. I just wish it would hurry up and happen.

This is getting GOOOOD

You can't do the Lasso with Psy and that makes you super frustrated and mad.

BUT

You learned how to fist bump and you love it.

Thanks for being boss.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAN!

You made it!

I wasn't sure you would since you started trying to shove everything known to man in your ears, nose and mouth; but you did it.

You're talking more and more- to the point where I'm probably going to stop keeping track of all of the new things you're saying. While that makes me a little sad, it's exciting to think that you're catching up and communicating with us about all the stuff you see!


Margaret likes:

• giraffes
• puzzles
• visiting Mr Jim and Ms Lynn
• lip gloss
• picking Poppa's tomatoes
• riding in laundry baskets
• dancing
• having her nails painted
• playing in the sand box
• going to the playground

Margaret DOES NOT like:

• having her hair brushed or washed
• having socks on

That, was awesome

You put your very own shoes on your very own feet.

Ms Alysia and I were talking about her taking you outside. You yelled "ALL RIGHT!" and started knocking on the back door. To prove that you meant business, you got your shoes and put them on.

It's safe to say that I was shocked. Not by the fact that you're awesome, but by the fact that you could get shoes on by yourself at 22mos.

Holy Crap.

You counted with me.

When you were just figuring out the whole talking thing you'd babble along with the appropriate cadence when they'd count on Sesame Street. Today while we were reading a book you actually said: three, four, six, seven, eight and ten. I was bamboozled! So daddy and I counted again- and you did it AGAIN!

Keep up the good work lady! Daddy and I rooting for you!

Meeeee-ow

For the FIRST TIME EVER you responded with the correct animal noise when I showed you an animal and asked "What's this?"

: D

Happy Birthday Bear

It's been awesome watching you for the last 365 days. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe just how long it's been. I keep thinking "..remember when she was little?" I have to remind myself that to the rest of the world you ARE little.

After just 365 days here you are 1/30 my age, 1/4 my weight and 1/2 my height. Pretty impressive in my opinion.

Today you got to share cupcakes and pudding with your friends at school- and I got a filling. : / After dinner we went out to Condrell's with Grandpa. Grandma was stuck at work- some day we're going to have to go rescue her and make her have some fun. We can worry about the when's and how's of that later though. For now let's worry about the fabulous, shall we?

Margaret can SAY:

• balloon [boo-n]
• this [dis]

Margaret can:

• get the correct end of a utensil IN to food and then her mouth
• carry objects while walking
• stand from a squat
• climb on to the couch
• climb a ladder

Margaret likes:

• ice cream!
• Star Wars
• pudding
• spinning in the yard
• going for walks
• pancakes
• hide and seek
• mud
• hot dogs
• mommy's sunglasses
• having her picture taken
• ketchup
• visiting the bigger kids at school
• Tangled
• reading books to people

Margaret does not like:

• raw broccoli
• hamburgers
• kiwi
• wearing her own sunglasses

I'm so excited we're starting year 2. This past year really has been an amazing adventure- I can't wait to see where you take us to next. Sooner rather than later you'll be the one calling the shots and we'll just be supporting players. Don't be afraid to remind us of that if we forget- it's all about you now.

So, where are we going?

Whoooa Nelly!

You walked. Over 8 feet. Through the kitchen. You didn't even fall- you quite gracefully lowered yourself to the ground when you got to the end of the kitchen.

I'm in trouble now.

This is what they call, strong willed.

We'll blame it on that little bit of Livernois, because after all, there are fewer of them around to contest. You've clearly had your own agenda from the very beginning. You don't seem to have it written down though and most importantly, it changes frequently and often.

While all babies develop at their own pace and in their own time, you embody this in the most fantastic of ways. While I was pregnant, at the end I would have contractions that were 5min apart and lasting for about a minute. My doctors use the 5-1-1 rule; which is 5mins apart, 1min duration for 1h. They would only ever run for a maximum of 50min. It felt like you were mocking me silently. You showed me that you knew how to go, but you weren't done at the party yet. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't annoyed.

When you were learning to roll over you'd get your torso turned but your hips and legs would be stuck. Almost as if your diaper was too heavy and you couldn't possibly move it. This went on for over a month, until one day you rolled. You rolled like you'd been doing it for years. Sometimes you'd catch me watching you and flash a proud smile. But those weren't terribly often.

Learning to crawl was terrible on everyone. You were so frustrated, you wanted to move. You were in the big baby room at daycare; so you saw all of them moving. You tried so tirelessly to figure out how to get everything to do what you wanted. You'd move a few feet and then plant your face in the floor to have a good cry. I think you wanted to cross the room in seconds and you couldn't figure out why you were still staring at the same old toys.

Once you learned to pull your self up cruising along furniture came within a day.

But walking? It's taking forever. You take somewhere between 2 and 6 independent steps a day. Some days you look so proud and amazed, other days you look down right terrified. You've been doing it for well over a month and you still insist on holding 2 hands when walking. If you're only given one hand to hold you get, mad. I'm not sure what the hang up is. But I know you'll get there in time. And I'll be watching with a happy heart the whole way.

... least it wasn't no

Today, you said a word. Not blabber or gibberish. A word. Kitty, to be precise.

It even had context! You were trying to pet Spite! So not only did you say something, you know what that something you said was.

Keep firing those neurons, baby.

I was going to wait...

...but I can't hold it in.

You crawled.

A real crawl.

Heeeeere we go!

TOOFS!

Well, to be fair, we can't see it. But you most certainly cut one. Dad and I can not only feel the hole in your mouth but we can also feel the SHARPANDPOINTY! that lies beneath.

So now I must ask you, ever so sweetly, please don't start biting.

It took so much restraint not to scream.

You rolled over. I've been waiting for this for what seems like YEARS. I know that that thought is ridiculous. But whatever, again, h-y-p-e-r-b-o-y-l-e. Deal with it.

I had to clasp my hands to my mouth and sit up. I was afraid I'd scream and you'd get startled and stop. I'd been waiting long enough for this that I had to learn to be silently excited. You may or may not know how hard that is for me depending on how old you are when you read this.

BABY SITS ALL BY HERSELF!

This is what I've been typing to people for the last 15min. Because you did. It was epic.