Smooches

Today is Buggie's 11-month birthday. In other words, exactly one month from today, my baby girl will turn one. In the "big scheme" of things, a year, or 365 days, 12 months, however you want to put it, really isn't THAT long. But when you see the amazing transformation of a newborn into a toddler in that short span, the mind tricks you into thinking it is a longer period of time than it truly is. It doesn't seem possible that a mere 11 months ago I met her face-to-face for the first time, because my heart feels like I have loved her forever. Those weeks & months have gone by in the blink of an eye, & I've loved every lasting moment of them.

The party plannin' is surely underway.





Today her perfect party hat came in the mail, and I can just see her grinning ear-to-ear in it with cake all over her peachy-pink cheeks.

Hayden's fascination with socks continues, and now we've added some new tricks to the mix, as well...smooches! Her favorite thing to smooch is her baby (special thanks to Auntie Kristi & Emersyn for letting her live with us).

Socks still in hand, approaching baby, coming in for the smooch:




And, behold, full-on smooch mode:


She also likes to "smooch" less-kissable items:


Lately, she's been taking off like a bull in a China shop on her "Lion." You should see her go...her feet swing outward to take each step while her tiny bum waddles and her entire body is angled at a perfect 45 degrees. Meanwhile, she doesn't look where she's going, but instead, up at me with a gummy grin, searching for approval. And I clap & laugh because it's the cutest thing I've ever seen. And it gets better, when she runs Lion into a cabinet or a wall and he won't budge, she takes her right hand outstretched & bangs on the handle, as if to say, "Get goin' dude!" Adorableness.



These days, her hair is just too long to be left down anymore. When it's down it dances in front of her tiny eyelashes. Her headbands are cute, but I can't leave them on too long until she grabs them & inevitably snaps it like a rubberband on her head. Clippies hold pretty well, until she feels it up there, then grabs it & puts it in her mouth. So, we've resorted to the baby-pony, AKA, the "Sumo Wrestler Do."



And, a smooch with the 'do:


Since today was her 11-month birthday & we ran out of daylight to take the commemorative 11-month photo, those will be soon to follow. To date, the 10-month photos were by far the most difficult for me to shoot. Let's cross our fingers for some decent shots tomorrow.