one.

It's been one indescribable year.  

 I have thought back countless times to one year ago at this time and it still seems like just yesterday I was pregnant.  I loved being pregnant.  It wasn't until the day before Lucy was born that I finally felt like I was ready to be done and have her here.  And my labor was a dream.  Not that I enjoyed the painful contractions, but the whole experience was everything I had hoped for.  That moment where you look down and grab your baby....it's incredible.  She was simply perfect.

 I had always wondered how my heart would grow to love another baby.  People say it just does and well, they are right.  It does.  It happened instantly and I still can't believe how much I love her.

 Matt and his little girl.  It's been fun to watch the bond between the 2 of them.  Sometimes she only wants me, but other times she gives him that "look" and he just cuddles right up with her.  Late at night the two of them have many cuddle sessions and I end up hearing Matt snoring through the baby monitor as they sleep together in her rocking chair.  I love it.

 We couldn't have visitors at the hospital when Carter was born (thank you H1N1) so it was so fun to have people come and adore her.  She was one of those beautiful newborns. Smooth pink skin, long fingers and dark messy hair.

 Her first Christmas.  Only 5 days old.  Tiny. Sleepy.  My favorite gift.

 She slept right through everything.

 Lucy has been our sensitive baby.  She prefers to be held, cuddled, rocked.  A little more dramatic when she falls.  Picky when she eats. But she's our flexible baby too.  A sort of go-with-the-flow, nap anywhere she can, along for the ride type personality.  I have been so grateful for this.  During a year of transitions for a 2 year old I couldn't have done it without a patient, easy-going baby.

 Her smile.  It's my favorite thing about her.  It lights up her entire face and then lights up a room.  When I pull the camera out, it's like she knows her job is to do one thing.  And she smiles, then giggles, then smiles even bigger.  She has always been such a happy baby.  We are blessed.

She knows what she likes (and doesn't like).  Food was never an issue for Carter.  He ate and ate and ate (and the ate some more).  Lucy has been very different.  She never did end up taking a bottle (thank goodness for sippy cups).  And if she doesn't like something, it ends up on the floor or the dog's mouth.  Every single night.  Drives me crazy.  She gives us this look too.  It's cute now but we know it'll give us grief in the future.  

 Even though she walked early (10 months) and can get around pretty easily she still likes to be touched, connected and with someone.  Carriers have been our survival tool this year.  Carter never really liked it, preferring to run and explore without being attached.  But this little girl only needs some physical touch and her thumb to suck and she's content.

 And beautiful.  Besides the obvious cuteness, she's beautiful on the inside too.  Her adoration towards Carter, big grin with her dolls and waving arms with friends and family.  She's just full of love.

 And now she's one.

 I am just amazed at how much I love this little person.  I love the way she rests her head on my shoulder or chest in the morning when she wakes up.  I love the way she twirls my hair around her fingers when she's tired.  I love her giggle.  I love her grin.  I love her patience when I'm busy with Carter.  I love her big blue eyes.  I love her sense of exploration and curiosity.  I love her courage to try new things.  I love how she closes any door she sees open and then gets confused why it won't open again.  I love how she says "mmmmmama!"  I love how she nods her head to say yes whenever we ask her a question.  I love her own way of signing "all done" by simply waving her arms all around in front of her face as fast as she can.

Lucy Elizabeth Vance.  Happy 1st Birthday!  Lucy Lu, we love you!

Stats:
Weight: 19lbs, 12oz (50%)
Height: 29.5 inches (60%)
Sleep: 2 short naps a day, in bed around 7pm, up around 5am with 1 feeding/cuddle session at night.
Food:  Still loves to nurse.  Favorite foods are bananas, yogurt, pumpkin, oatmeal, polenta with spinach, pasta, peas and blueberries.
Toys: Likes to carry around the alphabet magnets from the fridge, spoons from the silverware drawer, dolls, bouncing turtle, pretend food, and putting toys in and out of buckets over and over again.
Likes: sucking her thumb, holding my phone, Carter, Carter's toys, reading board books, chasing Yoshi around the house, climbing stairs, bath time.
Dislikes: the carseat, sitting still for diaper changes.
Nicknames: Lucy Lu, Baby girl, sweetheart, Luce.