We have a one-year-old

I am a little late in posting this, but here it is, one last month-by-month look at the little one we call Georgie Girl.

Georgie does not believe in sitting still, pretty much ever. She is always wiggling, looking, pointing, babbling, reaching, grabbing, clapping (she claps!), running, kicking, and even dancing. We have learned to treasure the seconds that she rests in our arms or sits contentedly (or rather, tiredly) on our laps. No movement indicates that she might be ready to sleep, or she might just be zoning out for a minute and as soon as she snaps out of it, she'll be toddling/shrieking/dragging things behind her again.

Georgie does not believe in eating consistent amounts or kinds of food. She likes to put things in her mouth, chew on them for a bit, and then pull them out and toss them aside. She must be swallowing some of what goes in, but some days, you'd have a hard time convincing me of that when I clean up her highchair.

Georgie just recently began to manifest her belief that screaming/crying/wailing/stomping/tantrum-ing is an acceptable way to express her displeasure. 

Georgie also believes that fussing, crying, and yelling after we've put her down for nap is normal. Her persistence in this belief has started to persuade us as well.

Georgie luckily believes that nighttime sleeping should generally about last 11-12 hours and that two 1 1/2 hour naps during the day are needed. She still cries at night but not in a way that needs responding to. 

Georgie believes that getting attention from her Nana is pretty much the best thing ever. Nana trumps everyone else, except maybe Aunt Rachel and maybe Mama, but only when Georgie is tired and ready for a nap or bed.

Georgie doesn't believe in performing on command, but she does believe in showing off when she's in the mood. Favorite tricks include dancing (stamping her feet and waving her arms), kicking (when she's sitting down), and standing on her head (bending over, resting her head on the ground, and waving with one hand). 

Georgie believes that all necessary communication can be reduced to a handful of sounds: mama, dada, nana (her favorite), baba (her second favorite), ba(th), and mmm (for food - because that's the sound I make when I feed her). Everything else is a mixture of babbling syllables and combinations of the previously mentioned sounds.

Georgie firmly believes that books are the best toys ever, and that finding a little corner to read in is just perfect. I believe that too, because a dozen books in her crib will buy me 10 minutes to shower.

Georgie believes she is the center of the world, and she's mostly right. We love her so much and even when she's driving us nutso with her tantrums and refusal to just sit still, we wouldn't trade her for anything (even though I have threatened to do so). She amazes us with how quickly she's growing and learning and we can't wait to discover what she will become in the next year!