Jane will be 15 months old in 8 days. This means she’ll be a big sister in 3 months- whoa! Just a couple of days ago, she started walking. She’s been walking on her walkers for awhile now and could stand and dance and clap for long periods of time, but was too cautious to risk taking a step without holding onto something. Then last Wednesday we were sitting around visiting at a friend’s house and she casually walked from Jeremy over to me. Jeremy announced, “Excuse me but could we just take a moment here because Jane is walking!” We all cheered, and she got embarrassed and buried her head in my lap. Oh, and I should clarify that she mainly sidesteps. It’s the same movement as “cruising” along while holding onto the couch. To walk over to me a couple feet in front of her, she’ll turn sideways and do a little half circle of side steps until she’s in my arms. It’s pretty funny. And really cute.

She also started singing last week. It took us a few moments for Jeremy and I to realize what she was doing because she sings in this really soft little sing-song voice. Our favorite song was while we were driving to church two Sundays ago, she was singing our names over and over again. So we sang “Sweet Jane” back to her. She doesn’t sing with us or to us; she sings to herself or her animals and we eavesdrop.

Jane has a real soft spot for anything cute and furry, especially kittens. One day she and Jeremy were working on an alphabet puzzle book, and she picked up one of the pieces, held it to her chest, scrunched up her nose and started cooing at the puzzle piece. We thought “how odd, to cuddle a wooden puzzle piece.” Then we realized it was a piece with a kitten on it. Now every time she goes to that puzzle, that is the piece she pulls out. She knows which books have a picture of a cat in them and always turns to that page. She also carries around my cat calendar (last year’s pocket calendar with a cat photo on each month). She keeps it in her play kitchen along with a birthday card with a cat on it. She coos and kisses the cats and waves to them throughout the day. Trust me, this is not how she sees me interact with our real cat, so I didn’t teach her to act like this. It’s so fascinating to me that some behaviors are innate. Speaking of our real cat, Jane loves Sophie and is really gentle and sweet to her… most of the time. (Occasionally, it is just too exciting to see Sophie up close and she has to make a quick grab for some fur). In fact, right now Sophie has a wet ear, proof of a juicy baby kiss.

Jane’s imagination is starting to show. My dad sent her a cute play kitchen shortly after Christmas. He was “in the mood to buy a kitchen.” Jane loves to pretend to eat her felt food or imaginary food from an empty bowl and loves to offer Jeremy a spoonful, too. After he accepts a bite of her play food, she will toss her head back and cackle in delight. She loves to open and shut the doors and rearrange her food.

I can’t imagine a more delightful or sweet tiny girl. We are head over heels for you, Jane Phillips!

To help us celebrate, my dad generously sent us out on a date to Pappas Seafood while we were in Houston. He also provided babysitting for Jane. It was such a fun night and a rare chance to go out just the two of us and eat a fancy meal (lobster for me and almond crusted snapper for Jeremy). Thanks, Dad!

The highlight of this year’s trip for me was watching Jane interact with her cousins in a whole new way, trying to follow along and giving out hugs in a way that she wasn’t doing at her birthday just 6 weeks earlier. Everyone was so sweet to her and spoiled us all rotten. We love you, Texas family!

Katie made the turkey.

Jane, Mimi, and Hawkeye (in the cone of shame) check out the Christmas lights

With Stephen and Amy at Dad’s birthday party

The birthday boy

Making a Christmas platter, a Mimi tradition

Jane with the Remlinger kids

The weather was perfect to go for a walk, even in pajamas and a princess dress (worn backwards)

my sweet niece and nephew

The tiny girls LOVED bathtime. (Jane got more baths in one week in Hamilton than she usually gets in a month in Denver- shhhh)

Phillips family Christmas picture

One year ago, when I was turning 31, I had just received the best gift ever, little Annie Jane, 3 weeks earlier. All I really wanted for that birthday was time alone to take a shower and a chocolate cake.

This year, I am 32. I can’t imagine life being much sweeter than this. I have a devoted, funny, smart, athletic, creative, godly husband, who happens to be an excellent dad. I have a sweet little affectionate, silly, beautiful girl. And I have a cute little son on the way. I am blessed indeed.

And this 32nd birthday has started off magnificently! Jeremy took me out on a date last night. We ate at Thai Basil while Linda kept Jane. Then we came home to watch Lonesome Dove. I finished a good book (at 4:30 am, but some things can’t be helped). Jane let her parents stay in bed until 9 am. I felt our little boy move for the first time while we were sleeping in, and his flips were powerful enough for Jeremy to feel too. Then we got up to a world covered in fresh powdery snow. When I checked the computer, I had a sale in my Etsy shop (it’s the little things, sometimes) and a text inviting me to birthday lunch with some friends. I’m off to go to a holiday craft fair in the snow. What a great birthday!

(Unfortunately, I didn’t get any good pictures of Maris or Jane. We were too busy having fun!)

PEARLY WHITES
As you know, I don’t really keep up with Jane’s stats on the blog, but for her 1st birthday, I thought I’d document a few of my favorites.

She got her first 2 teeth at 5 months. I had been dreading teeth due to nursing her, but was pleasantly surprised. Her teeth were mostly decorative; she didn’t bite! As for teething, we had it pretty easy. The first tooth bothered her a little and came in over Easter weekend in Hamilton. We didn’t even notice the next three until they were here and smiling at us.

She got her fifth tooth for her 1st birthday while we were in Houston. (Visits to Texas prompt tooth growth?) And then the next three teeth popped out a week later. Now as a big one-year-old, she has 8 teeth! (Still mainly decorative).

She is great at smiling with her teeth. She is not great at letting us brush them, even with her cute Hello Kitty toothbrush.

LOCOMOTION
Jane spent awhile revving up, and then took off crawling at 7 months. At a year old, she crawls faster and over everything, including stairs and anyone lying on the floor. I am sure that she could walk if she wanted to, but she is a little bit of a weenie wuss and doesn’t like to fall, even a couple of inches… on plush carpet.

Instead of walking, the girl dances. She dances at church, when Jeremy plays mandolin or guitar, to the radio, to her musical birthday card, and when she plays Jeremy’s keyboard. When she plays the latter, she throws her head back like Stevie Wonder and shakes her hair. She has some serious moves (just not walking moves).

CHITCHAT
Jane can say Da da da da da (always when she’s excited) and Mama (but only when she’s whining).
She can tell you that a chicken says “bawk bawk bawk,” a cat says “ow,” and an owl says “whooo.”
She can sign “all done” and point to what she wants you to give her next at the dinner table.

NUMBERS
From age 0 – 9 months Jane has been in the 50th percentile for weight and height. Then she shifted to 25% for weight at the last two doctor appointments, which is normal as babies get more active and busy. She still has rolls in all the right places. I confess I miss summer clothes that show those rolls!

OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Jeremy’s favorite thing is Jane’s belly laugh, and he commits real time to hearing it every day. It’s not hard; she gives up her laughs pretty easily, and the two of them don’t seem to get tired of rolling around on the floor laughing, only stopping to breath.

My favorite thing is when Jane and I are sitting near each other but working on our own things, and then all of a sudden she is standing in my lap with her arms around my neck and her head on my shoulder. She’ll work on her own book or blocks or puzzle for quite a while but all of a sudden it’s too much distance. I love that she needs me for a moment. I need her too. Every time.

Jane’s favorite thing (besides us, I suppose) is the cat. I know, our own ornery feline, Sophia Phillips, the same cat who hisses at our parents and dinner guests. EVERY SINGLE TIME Jane sees that cat, she squeals, or says “ow” (for meow), or “ke ca” (for kitty cat). Jane and Sophie routinely have a few episodes each night dedicated to Jane trying to kiss the cat’s fur or gently touch her paw or tail or… you get the picture. Jane is pretty careful with the cat, and for the most part the cat will tolerate a few kisses or pats per night.