Dear Lottie Bella: 12 months old

Dear Lottie Bella

Well this week saw your first birthday. It’s a funny one, as in many ways, the last year has literally flown by and I can’t believe you’re already 12 months old. In other ways, you have changed, developed and grown so much since you arrived that it seems impossible that it has all happened in just a year.

I’ll tell you all about your birthday in other posts, but suffice to say, this letter is nearly a week overdue because we have been so busy celebrating your big milestone, and you have had a blast. You still have one more party to go, and then I think your birthday will be well and truly celebrated.

You seem to have grown up so much this last month. I’m not sure if that’s psychological because I knew your birthday was looming, or whether you’ve had a big leap, but you are excited by life and gaining lots more skills, along with another tooth.

Your language has continued to develop and you spent an entire 20-minute car journey last week shouting Ka-tie at the top of your voice. I’m not sure how to explain that I’m mama to you, or mummy, mum, mumumum… It was pretty funny though and you’re very proud of your new word.

We’ve been out and about lots, which you love, and tomorrow, you will graduate from your Baby Sensory group, which is a bit sad for me as it holds lots of special memories and friends, but I think you’re ready to find some new things to do now.

You’re up and about in your cot now, and you were delighted with yourself when you worked out how to get to sitting up on your own. Yesterday, daddy found you standing up, holding on to the bars, so you’re much more mobile. You also spend lots of time standing up and rocking on your hands and knees, but you haven’t quite mastered crawling or walking yet.

This month you are loving:

Standing up – If there’s hands for you to hold on to, you’ll stand up. You just love it. You’re definitely getting ready to walk and getting your legs nice and strong and will reach out for any hands you see so that you can stand. You’ve just started to work out taking little steps and are trying your hardest to walk.

Shouting – As well as your words, you’ve definitely found your voice and will had a full on shouting/singing conversation with anyone who will talk to you.

Bouncing – You’ve always loved to bounce, but now that you can stand for longer, it’s the perfect opportunity for a little bounce. You also love twirling around and will not stand still.

Cake and chocolate – You’ve had your first taste of the good things in life when you turned one and you could not get enough of cake or chocolate buttons.

Kisses with daddy’s prickly beard – When daddy gets you out of the bath every night, he kisses your tummy and his prickly beard tickles you and it never fails to get you giggling.

Your new toys – You were well and truly spoilt on your birthday and you do not know what to play with next with all the new toys around you.

Being upside down – Again, you’ve always been partial to hanging your head upside down, but you have spent an awful lot of time this way round this month. You love it.

I’ll admit that when we put you to bed on the eve of your first birthday, I got a bit teary eyed. Your first year has been amazing. I loved you with everything I’ve got from the moment I first saw you, and that love just has not stopped growing ever since.

It’s been a tough couple of months for our family, but no matter how down I get, your little face, the twinkle in your eye and your gorgeous smile, never fail to cheer me up. I can honestly say that you have made me smile every single one of the last 366 days and ever since. You are the dearest, sweetest, funniest little girl I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing and I just can’t wait to see what the next 12 months bring.

Happy birthday gorgeous girl.

All my love

Mama (not Katie!)