Emilia turns ONE!

This past year has flown by for me.  There were times that it felt like it was standing still, but I don't think I could have fit much more into it without exploding.  Emilia just turned ONE.  I can hardly believe it.  Duncan's first birthday was so hard for me.  Millie's crept up quietly and seemed to strike without warning.  I wasn't prepared.  Our baby girl is growing up so fast. 

I know that it isn't a good idea to compare kids, but lets face it, it is nearly impossible NOT to when you only have two.  Emilia is so different from Duncan.  They are both so unique.  Not just in the ways that boys and girls differ.  I am sure that there will be plenty more to learn about the differences between raising a boy and raising a girl.  I cant imagine what it will be like to have three. The entire dynamic of the family is going to change, yet again.  Millie has such a gentle personality, though she has learned that she has a voice... that can scream loudly for any mood.  Strangely she manages to change the pitch ever so slightly that even a stranger can tell the difference between the "happy scream", the "tired scream", the "hurt" scream, and the "Mad Millie" scream.  Millie has been such an easy going child.  She just seems to roll with whatever we seem to be doing or making her do.  She is generally happy quiet.  Duncan makes her world go 'round.  She follows his every move and wants to do everything that he does, much to Duncan's dismay at times.  Now that she has discovered walking (tottering mostly) a whole new world has risen around her.  Where before walking Duncan could "hide and stash" things up on a shelf or couch, now she can climb and reach things that he has tried to hide from her.  It is very disheartening for her poor brother.  He just gets something "safe" and starts to play with another toy and she finds the hiding spot.  We are going to have to really work on Sharing for a while.  It is a difficult concept for both kids.  She has always been a pretty good sleeper and napper.  The transition into one nap is coming up for her.  She has started to wean herself from two naps, much to my dismay.  Millie's vocabulary and communication is really starting to take off.  She is still a little shy about saying words, but she is able to sign and gesture her needs and feelings really well.  Millie is much more of a snuggler and lover than her brother has ever been.  She loves to give kisses and hugs.  She will pat our back and rub our arms as we hold her and pat her.  She will stop what she is doing sometimes and come and climb in my lap, just to be held for a minute and make sure all is well with the world.  She loves to dance and make noise with her toys, and has recently discovered humming. Her favorite song is "If your happy and you know it", and she will always dance if you sing the "Elmo's world" song.  Her favorite toy is mommy's phone.  She knows which buttons to press to call "jojo gram" and daddy. When mommy won't let her have the phone she will always head for her "vroom-vroom" (one of the three sit or push toys we have). Her favorite words are Num-num, uhh-ooh, helwo (hello)  Dadad, Mine, and Bubub, and she only says mama if she needs something or is hurt. Which I am okay with now that new baby is so close to arrival, but it was hard for a while ;-).  She has six teeth on the top and five on the bottom.  She eats like a champ, but is begining to remember what she likes and dislikes. She has a very mild allergy to citric fruit and red dye.  She has an amazing attention span for her age, and can easily entertain herself most of the time. She is a little nervous around animals, even our own.  The first thing that people notice about Millie is her beautiful big blue eyes, followed by her sideways cheeky grin.  She is turning into quite a handful.  We couldn't imagine life without her!