I can't believe our sweet little girl is already a full year old... She's getting to be such a big girl, too! It's just as well that I'm so late in posting this month's Sophia Watch, because she's really starting to hit so many milestones now -- so this will be a mix of Sophia's 12th and 13th months. :)
While she's still not crawling, she *has* figured out a really cute squat/scoot combo that gets her around in a haphazard way. :) If you put her down on her belly, she immediately puts her legs out in a froggy split, and then pushes herself up into a sitting position. I keep trying to get it on video, but she's so darn fast! She's also discovered that by reversing that move and scooting her bottom over a bit, she can slowly maneuver herself around on the floor -- she goes from sitting, to froggy split on her belly, scoots herself backwards a bit, and then pushes herself back into a sitting position. It's not the fastest or most precise method of locomotion, but it's incredibly cute. Especially given her shrieks of triumph when she manages to get close enough to grab another toy!
Sophia has also started saying a few more words this month! She reliably announces our names whenever we come into view, and she's added a floppy little hand wave and "hiiiii!" The best is when we're driving somewhere, and then I come around to get her our of her carseat when we've arrived -- because she's rear-facing, she doesn't see me during the whole of the drive, and then gets super excited when she sees me again. She starts vigorously waving both her arms, tilts her head at me, grins, and shouts "hiiiiii! Mamamamama!"
Other words she says: milk (which she pronounced perfectly once earlier this week, but usually says more like "meh" while reaching insistently for her cup), yes (typically in response to me asking if she wants more food), no. I, um, may have taught her that last one -- she's been in a food-throwing phase lately, and I said "no!" to her very sternly, which seems to have made a big impression on her. Now she babbles to herself "no, no, no, no" -- as she throws her food. Here's hoping she learns to not actually throw her food!
And Sophia and Joshua are really starting to play *with* each other more these days. Joshua has learned that if Sophia has a toy he wants, the easiest way to get it back from her is to hold out his hand in front of her and wait. She loves sharing with us, even more than actually playing with an object herself, and Joshua is learning to take advantage of that. Which is much better than him grabbing things out of her hands! They also love dancing together, particularly at the table -- Sophia will start rocking back and forth in her booster seat, and Joshua will laugh and start rocking his own chair. They make each other laugh so hard!
And some more sweet photos from our little 12-month photo shoot -- I did at least take these right on Sophia's birthday. :)
Big brother wanted to help, but then he got bored and started hiding under the blanket off to the side. Which Sophia thought was absolutely hilarious!
Then Joshua wanted in on the sticker-wearing photoshoot fun. He didn't want to sit nicely next to his sister, but I think this sequence is a sweeter representation of their relationship! (Please excuse his jammies and Thomas underwear... Again, a more faithful representation of how he prefers to present himself these days!)
Happy birthday, sweet Sophia! We love you, and are so thankful for your presence in our little family!
