THE BECK FAMILY: Elle's Twelfth Month

ElleBelle,

You are ONEderful! We have loved our first year with you and look forward to the next!

Here are your 12 month stats as taken by Dr. Petrovich:

Weight: 20 pounds, 9 ounces (60%)

Height: 29 inches (38%)

Head Circumference: 44.5 centimeters (36%)

This month:

-More teeth came in... you are on a roll! Your bottom two molars broke through on your first birthday.

-You are really beginning to communicate. You say the words Dada, Mama, do (for dog), tickle-tickle (while tickling yourself or someone else), Ha (for hi and bye while waving), and you love to give a high-5 and blow kisses complete with the Muah! sound effect. While in your highchair you point to the light and say "la" and then the clock and say "ka" over and over again. You sign the words water, milk, no, and all done.

-You are full of giggles! You are also flexible and easygoing. Reece can be pretty rough with you, and when I think you should be hurt and crying, you laugh instead. Good thing! At church a nursery worker expressed to us how impressed she was with your flexibility, specifically how you don't seem to mind if another kid takes your toy. Yes, Reece is lucky... for now!

-Your relationship with Reece is becoming more interactive as you are now mobile and interested in his toys. He's not a big fan of you using his things, so we hope that once you have your own toys (from your birthday) he will be more willing to share. You absolutely love your big brother. You smile when you see him coming and scream with excitement when he wrestles with you and tickles you. You both like to scream together, especially at dinner time. You have so much fun that I let you do it, within reason (I'm sure that our neighbors don't mind!). You also like to scream for attention, and when we look at you, you tilt your head to the side and raise your shoulders with a smile. Silly girl!

-If you want something you will point to it and then to yourself. You raise eyebrows and say, "mmmMMM" for added emphasis.

-All of your meals consist of whole food cut up into mouth-sized bites. You are no longer a fan of being spoon fed. When you are all done eating you will throw the food you don't want on the ground. You also like to offer others food from your mouth. Thank you for sharing!

-You love to be in the water! We have been to the community center pool and Grandpa and Grandma's hotel pool quite a bit this month. You love to splash and kick your feet. You are not a fan of floating on your back yet. You are also not a fan of the ocean. Well, you love being held by someone who is in it because the waves fascinate you, but you are not a fan of it's cold temperature. Maybe next summer!