Before we noticed, (more than) a whole entire year snuck away from us, and we are celebrating that Victoria has been bringing so much joy to our family for 14 months already.
This spunky little girl has such an amazing personality. It never ceases to amaze me how this tiny little person (as in whoever is the toddler at the time) is so full of such a unique personality! How infinitely different can each person be? God doesn't run out of "models"! There is always a new and unique personality in each human being that is born, and it is always fascinating, amusing, and also challenging to see that personality emerge and grow from babies to toddlers and beyond.
She basically spent the Summer in a diaper. It was so hot and, truthfully, naked babies are so cute! Since Dad and Elena were in Spain for her birthday, our celebration was a quiet one. We made cupcakes with chocolate frosting, and this is how she enjoyed hers!
She now starts the night in the girls' room, but she always ends up in our bed. Honestly, I love it. She is getting a little wild in her sleep, kicking and spinning in every direction, but we can still handle it. Especially when she wakes up before us and kisses our faces alternatively or when she hugs us and snuggles up to us in a clear and spontaneous demonstration of her love. It's the sweetest!
She enjoys being outside like just another one of the big kids. She absolutely loves music! Drop-anything-and-start-dancing-and-singing like! And she certainly never lacks and audience. She does not suffer from a lack of attention! There is always someone ready to hold her, teach her something new, or just be amused by her antics. She climbs on everything which also means she keeps falling off everything. She has learned a few baby signs but she chooses when she feels like using them, and she's always very proud of herself when she does use them.
She is so small, and she doesn't know it. It is mind blowing (and entertaining, if we're honest!) how she doesn't know how small she is. She thinks of herself just equal to each one of the rest of members of this family at any given moment. Therefore, she pours whole glasses of water down her dress in an attempt to drink like us. She insists on eating by herself, with her own little fork even when she ends up losing half of her entire bowl on her lap when it's all said and done. She stands on the chair in front of the computer (at least 10 times a day!) and furiously presses every key she can get in before I come to correct her again. She grabs whatever piece of cloth (or clothing) and wipes the cabinets or the floor because she is cleaning. She has hit herself on the head with the broom handle innumerable times because she was sweeping.
When she is done with her busy doings, she stretches out her arms begging to be picked up. She wraps her little arms around my neck, pats me in the back, and then asks to nurse. *Sigh* It doesn't get much sweeter than that. I love this beautiful age of discovery. It keeps me busy! It's madness to try to keep up with her, she's so busy. But what I love the most is that she is ours. I love that we get to see her grow, that we get to be challenged by her needs. I love that God thought it a good idea to share this little person with us!
Happy First Birthday our sweet Victoria Jane!