We got Olive a front-facing car seat, and today was the first time I saw her in it. She was just looking out the window, grinning at us, and enjoying it. It was definitely time. We went to Red Robin for lunch and got her her own kids meal. That was a first. She was so cute and fun for part of the day, and very needy and difficult for part of the day. She had no problem going to bed right at 6. Oh and we've been putting her down with water instead of milk and it's going well. Love her!

These are my last days alone with Olive. I want to cherish every minute.

Olive was sick this morning. When Chris got her out of bed she had vomit all over. He put her in the shower with me, and then we rinsed out her jammies and sheets and stuffed animals. Then we put all that stuff through the wash. It was so gross. I gagged several times. It was our first experience dealing with our kids' vomit. I'm sure there will be lots more chances. As for Olive, she was lethargic most of the day. She just wanted her mom. I love that.

• Olive smiles and claps her hands when we sing If You're Happy and You Know It.
• Plays peek-a-boo!
• Chris says he thinks Olive is a peacemaker.
• Got her 7th tooth a few weeks ago (to the right of her bottom teeth) and the 8th one is poking through now (to the left of her bottom teeth).
• Olive doesn't like the microwave. Every time we put something in it, especially her milk, she gets upset.
• She nods a lot.
• She started this soft hack several days ago. No idea where it came from but it's funny.
• She does this new face lately - squinty eyes and a fake cry - it's so pitiful and funny.
• Still loves music, dances a ton, does a lot of shoulder movement and even looks like she's breakdancing at times.
• Loves phones. She puts them up to her ears and talks. And she chews on them too.
• She blows kisses! She started that a couple weeks ago with Nestor and has done it a few times since. She gives kisses (without blowing them) too. She gave Chris and me a bunch today. Loved it!
• She climbs everything these days!
• Yesterday at the store I let her hold this styrofoam sward, and she took a bite out of it. I guess that marks the first time I was forced to buy something cuz she broke it. It was $1.

13 months

We just got back from Olive's 1-year checkup. She is 21 pounds and 28 inches long, which means her weight is average and her height is short! It's about the 10-20th percentile. I'm kinda glad about that because maybe she won't have to go through what I went through being the awkward tallest girl in class all the time. Ha! Olive reached for the doctor when she came in the room, and when the doctor picked her up she put her head on her shoulder and loved on her for a few minutes. The doctor just melted. She was really delighted at Olive's personality and progress. She said she's very advanced socially and with all her skills. She was impressed that she's walking so well and eating everything we give her and being off bottles. She went on and on about what a great baby she is, and that was really gratifying for me. I asked about putting her to bed with milk, and she said we really shouldn't do it because it causes all kinds of dental issues. She suggested putting water in her cup instead of milk when it's time for bed. So that's my homework - transitioning her from milk to water to go to bed. I want to make that transition before Lucy comes so that Olive doesn't have any extra stress at that time. And I think that'll eventually make it easier for her to go to bed without anything at all. She got 3 shots in her thighs and a little heel poke to check for anemia (which I guess is something they do once the baby has moved from formula to whole milk). She cried for about 2 minutes and then forgot all about it and just wanted to play. She's a champ! Now that we're home, she's sleeping soundly in her comfy new bed. We really are so blessed with such an easy, independent, funny, smart, pretty little girl.

Happy 1st Birthday, Olive! She danced, and went to the park for a picnic, and ate lots of cake, so you know she celebrated properly.