Mailee--1 year!

Miss Mailee is still climbing on everything she can find!  It probably helps that Kaiden is there to encourage her!

If Kaiden is doing it, she's going to do it too!!  She will sit with the boys and tinker with a remote just like they do when they play video games.

"Here Kaiden, let me help you!"

She is a great eater.  Here she discovered that her bib had food in it too!  That was much more fun to eat.

Mmmmmm!

Friday, Feb 10 she decided she was going to walk.  A lot.  Previously, she has had moments when she would take 3-10 steps, but Friday we saw a determination in her.  That weekend she really walked a lot.  And she didn't give up and crawl just because it was easier or faster.  When she decided to walk, the girl would walk--even if she fell.  She would just get back up and try it again.

HEB has new car carts.  Mommy is very excited because they are much easier to steer with more room for groceries.  The kids just like driving the car.  :)

Sun. Feb 12--After watching Kaiden and Dad play soccer outside today, she decided she would do the same.  She would walk and pick up the ball, drop it and kick it around.  She also demonstrated a strong preference for her right foot tonight.  Lich held her to give her balance--she would kick the ball and he would tap it back to her.  EVERY time she used her right foot, even if it went to the left.

Feb 12--Tonight Kaiden left the table a little early.  Mailee decided that she wanted to sit in Kaiden's chair at the table.  She got very mad and yelled at Lichar until he "understood" that that is what she wanted.  Now anytime he isn't in his chair, she insists on sitting there!

She has started making this pouty face a lot!  Sometimes when she makes it she's not even pouty, it is just like she is practicing or something...  :)

Kaiden had to make his best pouty face too.

Feb 14  she walked to me when I picked her up at school (first time!)  Best Valentines Day present ever!

All bundled up for a run.  I love this hat!

 

They love to go for runs in the stroller.

Although you can't tell by the face Kaiden is making here.

She is a master of sign language--"more" (frantic waving of hands above her head) and "milk" (which she is really good at)

She's always loved to climb on this walker, but one day we looked up and found her here.

When we started taking pictures, she started giving us some awesome facial expressions!  She was quite proud of herself.

Check her out cutting those eyes at us!

She loves to carry this lego flag pole around in her mouth.  It gives me heart failure because I'm just waiting for her to fall on it.

She is getting to be a BIG girl!  Anything Kaiden can do, she can do also.  (Obviously an after bath shot)

She was so proud of herself and had a great time discovering all the things on the cabinet!

She is super independent--refuses help from us.  She will yank toys away if we try to help and bat our hands away.

Here she is enjoying the rocking horse.

She likes to be outside, and has quite a temper when things don't go her way.

This picture just cracks me up--for so many reasons.  One, she is so freaking stubborn.  We keep trying to stop her from standing in the bath tub, you can tell we are very successful.  Look at her determined face.  It's like she is saying, "Go ahead, just see if you can get me to sit."  

Two, just look at that belly sticking out!!!! And third, (which is more sad than funny) is the huge bruise right in the MIDDLE of her forehead--well, what do you expect for a new-ish walker?

So here is what I was trying to get a picture of.....her silly hair and big bruise.

One weekend morning we were in our bedroom and the kids just climbed up in the rocking chair and cuddled.  I love how she is leaning her head on Kaiden's shoulder.

I hate to post a million poses of the same thing, but I love how Mailee is looking lovingly at Kaiden here.

And silly faces here!

Then big smiles!

And then complete boredom!  :)

She loves to be in the running stroller and climbs in it all the time.

This is her latest pose.  I don't know why she does it, but she does it all the time!  It cracks us up!!

Everybody has to sit in Momma's lap.  Here we were at Freebird's with about 10 of our friends.  Yet they both HAD to be in my lap!!!  (not that I'm complaining....it is super nice to be loved!)

She wants to be a big girl. She insists on having a fork most of the time and will usually eat better if she has a fork.  She is amazingly good at picking up very small pieces with a fork.  She has even mastered stabbing blueberries with a fork!

But then again, sometimes it is just fun to play with your fork!

I have no idea what this was about, but she went through a short phase where she liked to stick her foot in the running water.  Always in this position.  I'm gonna go with the idea that she is practicing her ballet....

Legos.  Oh, Legos.  These kids LOVE legos.  Their favorite is this bucket of lego people.

Mailee will sit for hours (ok, maybe really just 5-10 minutes, but that is hours in a one-year old's world) and play with the legos.  She likes to try and put the hats on and off.  And sometimes the heads.

We have a million pictures of them both playing in the legos.

Really, millions.....just like this.  (I have no idea why Kaiden is only in his undies here....)

Look at the love!

Another quirk she has picked up--sticking her foot up in the high chair.

One night she decided to put on Kaiden's shoes and walk around.  This cracks me up because Kaiden has two pairs of shoes, one red and one blue.  Somehow she got one of each pair.  She was quite proud of herself!

Hydrating before a rough ride home from daycare one day.

Mailee's first official bad hair day.  It stayed like this ALL day.  I even tried to comb it down.  It was crazy and did NOT go away until after her bath!

She loves her some berries.  Any kind.

By the end of the month, she was walking super smooth--almost a run.

Just like Momma and Kaiden, she loves to dance.