My Lovely Poppy~ Oct. 19, 2012

My Lovely Poppy,

You are 13 months old! Your smile is so brilliant, it shines brighter than the sun. Sometimes when I watch you play and you smile, the absolute beauty of your smile makes my jaw drop.  You are growing up so fast that I have really made an effort to stop everything and enjoy you as much as possible recently. I've started putting off school work, housework and other things because sneaking in time to sit and cuddle with you matters so much more than any of those things. With Lulu at school, I love to sit on the floor and play with you when Wilder has his quiet time. You love to push a big soft ball towards me, and you giggle when I roll or toss it back to you.  You also love to play "chase" games, where I or one of the kids get on our knees and crawl around after you.  I love even just lying in bed with you, nursing you, nuzzling you, staring at you, cuddling with you and just looking into your eyes. Those special moments with you restore me and let me experience pure love.

You are such a blessing, Lulu and Wilder ADORE YOU.  And you adore them as well. Lulu loves to "carry" you around, and she loves to bring her friends over and say "this is my baby sister, isn't she cute?" when she plays with other kids. You love to play with them and Lulu and Wilder often involve you in their pretend play as well.

You are officially off baby food now, and eating whatever we eat at the table with us. When I start bringing plates of food to the table you immediately walk to your high chair since you know we are about to eat. You do such a good job eating table food, and I'm getting more brave about letting you have larger things that you need to take bites of. Last night we had burritos and instead of cutting yours into small pieces I let you have it whole, and you did an amazing job taking little bites off it. You have 4 top teeth now, and three bottom teeth.

You can clap, dance (bob your head), and you're starting to make silly sounds like blowing raspberries and growling. No real words yet, aside from dadadadadadada, but I have a feeling that one of these days you will suprise us with a bunch of words all at once.

You are an absolute joy to me and this family. I love you more than words can even say. I'm so totally in love with you, so glad that you are my precious baby girl.

I love you to the moon and back, my dear!