One year

It is so hard for me to believe you've been in our lives for a year!

Aspen, you are the happiest baby I know. You have the greatest smile and you offer it to people whether they want it or not. I get the feeling you are going to be very social when you get older. Already you have a tendency to laugh and talk even if no one is joining you. If someone is joining you--great! A few nights ago you were walking along the couch and saw Brendon's shoes kicked up on the foot rest so you walked over and grabbed them and gave him this big mischievous grin. He was consumed with his phone and didn't notice but you just kept grabbing his feet and laughing and smiling, only pausing occasionally to get his reaction. It was so cute! (He did eventually give you the attention you were wanting)

You did not hesitate at all to grab the entire cupcake and put it in your mouth. I remember Kaybree especially taking a few minutes to figure out if she liked the feeling of the frosting. You didn't even wait for me to get the camera ready!

 At your one year check up you were in the 46th percentile for weight, 62nd for height and 82nd for head circumference. You're doing great developmentally, hitting all your milestones. You're definitely physically ready to walk but just like Kaybree and Eisley you're taking your time making it happen. You're happy just cruising along furniture and then crawling. You crawl with a lot of force. It's like a stomp/crawl. You put a lot of power into that movement.

I was really impressed with you during your check up this week. You didn't cry at all when the nurse did a toe prick to get a drop of blood. You cried when she gave you your shots but only until I could pick you up and hold you. I bet if I could hold you the entire time you wouldn't even have cried.

I do have to take you to see a cardiologist at the end of this month. Your almost-constantly purple toes are an anomaly. They've always been that way but now we need to take a deeper look into why.

You're a decent sleeper. You go to bed at 7 each night and wake up when the rest of the house wakes up around 6. When we were able to sleep in a little later around Christmas time you started sleeping until 7 but last weekend you decided to wake up at 5 on Saturday and Sunday for no good reason. You never take consistent naps for us at home but you take good naps for Grandma Vance. Punk!

I sing you a quick lullaby each time I set you down to sleep. As soon as I start singing you plop your head down on my shoulder and cuddle. It's the absolute best thing ever!

I love when I can catch your eye and see the smile slowly spread across your face. It's like we have a secret together.

Brittany posted on Facebook that she has never seen a baby who can smell food a mile away. It's true. You are a foodie for sure. You're always willing to try new foods. You prefer something with a lot of flavor and spice. You don't like avocados but you love guacamole. Not a fan of baby food squash but you liked roasted cauliflower. Any time you see someone with food you crawl right up to them and start a low whining. 

Eisley has started to take advantage of your love for food by making it her opportunity to cuddle. Kaybree and Eisley both love snuggling you. You are so squishy and cute, I don't blame them!

You love the dogs and for a baby you're pretty gentle with them. You never pull on them. Bently is getting older and has some pain in his hips so he sometimes growls at you when you're trying to use him to stand up or just when you're trying to get past him when he's laying against the couch. Overall you get along pretty well. 

You love balloons. Your reaction to this one we bought you was awesome.

 Grandma Vance watches you every day while me and Dad are at work. So you're definitely the favorite grandchild. you are so spoiled by her! She's even setting up play dates for you.

We are all pretty obsessed with you, baby girl. I love you!