This morning I got up, made Sienna some milk, got her up, dressed and fed, and sent her off with Daddy for her first day at a new daycare.
Last year on this day I held her for the first time. I remember it like it was today. I remember her face, red and wrinkly- but her eyes have always been those big brown almonds that I love so much. She came out screaming, then immediately quieted as she was placed in my arms. It is in these arms that she has spent a large part of this last year. We have snuggled, cuddled, napped, read, paced, and rocked. I can do just about anything with her in my arms. Open a locked door while carrying a school bag and a bunch of mail? Sure. Make a peanut butter sandwich? No problem. Run upstairs at lightning speed to turn off the off balance washing machine? Yeah, that too.
Then she learned to crawl. All of a sudden, she could move on her own! She didn't always need me to take her from place to place, although it was still her preferred mode of transportation.
At around 10.5 months she learned to walk. Walking is incredibly efficient- no rug burns! So Sienna became even more independent and sometimes downright squirmy in my arms.
Now not only does she walk, she power walks. She can zoom along at high speeds until she reaches a pair of arms willing to receive her or hits a wall or table (she takes after me).
But mommy's (and daddy's) arms are still her security blanket, and they will always be there to comfort her when she needs it.
One year seems like such a long time, but in reality it went faster than I ever thought a year could go. I feel so lucky to be Sienna's mom, and be able to watch her grow. The transformation from newborn to toddler is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.
All those firsts we have witnessed, and all the ones we have yet to see are reminders of how wonderful life is, even when we're exhausted and Sienna is screaming.
My favorite time of the day is bedtime when I get to sit and snuggle Sienna to sleep. I love rubbing her back, stroking her hair, and rocking in the glider until she finally falls asleep snuggled close to me. It is during this time that I often marvel about how much she is grown and how quickly this past year has gone. She hardly fits in the chair anymore!
We have so much fun together playing, reading books, chasing each other around the house, singing songs, etc. Even though she has lots of toys, she still enjoys playing with random household objects more than anything. Well, almost anything. She has a love for stuffed animals, especially her little bear! She also loves monkey and teddy bear. Anything she can carry around.
Sienna has decided it is time to start talking and signing! She can say uh-oh, mama, dada, and up!
She signs "more" for anything related to food. I think I even saw her do "all done" once too. Exciting! She's definitely a smarty pants. :)
We're down to one nap a day, I don't know how it happened. Sometimes it's only half an hour, sometimes its closer to two hours. Since her schedule is changing to go along with daddy's instead of mine, she's going to bed closer to 6:30/ 7. She still seems exhausted by dinner time though.
This has been by far the best year of my life.
I am so glad we have such wonderful friends and family for Sienna to know and depend on as she gets older. We love you!
