You're ONE!! Happy Birthday, Hallie!

Happy Birthday to the sweetest girl!  We are so glad Hallie joined our family last year.  She has added so much joy to our lives.  Here are a few observations about our Hallie-Gal:

Have I mentioned that Hallie is a cuddler? We used to think it was just because she was so opposite of our little boy who stiff -armed us everytime we held him, just so we didn't get to close.  But she continues to squeeze us, cuddle with our face or shoulder, give us kisses when we least expect it, and pat us on the back as we hold her.  The other day I was hand mopping the floor and she came up and hugged with with 2 arms around my neck.  I was trying to get it done, so I just let her hug me and she held on for a good 2 minutes while I finished scrubbing.  Then we had a great cuddle.  I just love how loving she is.

Hallie is clapping everytime I say, "Yay!" or "good job" which turns out is alot!  She pats her mouth like an Indian (Native American?) and she like to pat my mouth too.  She is trying out some of the signs I am teaching her, but hasn't done them on her own yet.

She is so expressive.  She smiles with her whole body.  She acts surprised.  She gets nervous of loud noises and fast movement.  She still is so nervous around dogs (but won't cry unless they bark at her).  She just SCREAMS with delight as she tries to gingerly touch them.

She is curious, but not destructive.  She will touch and examine things, but not completely destroy anything.  For example, she can open the door to the garbage can and sometimes I will find something I had thrown away in her hands or somewhere around the house, but it will only be one item.  She took ornaments off the tree to check them out and then would try to put them back on.

She HAS to be with someone at all times.  Sometimes Jackson will suffice, but usually it has to be mom (or dad).  She cannot be alone.  She likes Jackson, but he makes her a little nervous because sometimes he won't play nice.

She sleeps through the night (8-7), but still cries quite a bit to fall asleep for naps.  Her cries are more of whines than the full-on screams Jackson would do, so it is easier to let her cry it out.

I am surprised how much like Jackson she is.  She gets really angry when you take a favorite item (nerf darts, crayons, markers, etc) and will yell.  She is stubborn and doesn't like to be forced to get dressed.  She hates when I try to 'show' her how to use a toy.  I think she is more interested in balls and cars than Jackson was at her age.

First time playing dress-ups, she knew what to do!

She already enjoys 'coloring'.  She can mimic us in quite a few ways.  She knows that socks go on her feet, bows go on her head and she tries to hold shirts up to her body and gets frustrated when they won't stay on.

The other day, Hallie was playing with a board book (she loves to try and get the pages open) and then she came and threw it in my lap and looked at me with this "READ IT!" look.  So I opened it and said the animal names and sounds and she was fascinated.  She loves being read to, and I haven't missed a day since.  When Jackson was this age, I would FORCE him for at least 10 mins (total) a day to read a book to him (it was the library challenge . . .) so I hadn't even tried much with her, but she LOVES sitting in my lap and reading books!

She used to be a great eater, but is getting more and more picky and turning her head at many items.  Mostly she just wants to feed herself.  She STILL hasn't figured out how to use a spoon properly (putting her tongue down or opening her mouth wide enough) so it is frustrating to try to spoon feed her (although she does fine with a fork).

I love this girl so much.  I get so excited to see her after her naps.  I play silly games with her while we shop in the store and I should be embarrassed, but I just love to see her laugh.   I LOVE to hear her and Jackson giggling and laughing together.

We love Hallie and look forward to many more birthday's with her!