A Onederful year

As of Thursday, we have a one year old in our house.  How, you ask?  Yeah, I don't know either.  This time last year I had just spent my first full day at home with her, and I was wondering how it could feel so natural to have a baby girl in our house.  I was also wondering how on earth I would have the time for 2 children.  Would I be able to make both of them feel special?  Would I feel frantic and frazzled forever?  Would I ever have time to spend just with Clay?  God is so good and faithful and I thank him every day for the blessing of this beautiful baby girl.  When we found out we were pregnant the second time, I thought for sure it would be another boy - and I was really excited about that.  I already knew how to do boy stuff and we had all of the boy gear and it just seemed more practical.  So much for practical - I LOVE having a girl!  And I don't even mind all of her stuff - bows, shoes, tights, panties, dresses, skirts, brushes, dolls, etc.  There's no way I could list all of the wonderful things that make Rachel our Ray-Bug, but here are some things that make her unique in our house:

• She is incredibly verbal


• She doesn't really care if you're busy or tired or in the middle of making dinner or using the bathroom - when she needs to be held she needs to be held RIGHT THEN


• She's almost running through the house and has mastered standing up without holding onto anything


• She loves having her head scratched when she's really tired


• She is attached to this little pink blanket that looks like a teddy bear


• She will go the longest way possible to avoid having to step one foot on the grass


• She growls every time she sees an animal


• She doesn't care much for a bottle anymore


• She can drink more water than anyone in our family


• She has to examine each bite before she allows it to enter her mouth


• She always has something in her mouth, and it's usually something she shouldn't have in her mouth


• She squeals when she's really happy


• She likes making funny faces


• She desperately wants to like her swing outside, but she is completely terrified of actually moving in the thing


• I'm pretty sure her hair gets curlier every day


• She will cry just about every time I'm on the phone


• She gives me unsolicited kisses

I took her to the doctor Friday morning and she got a wonderful report - 21 pounds, 15 ounces (70%) and 30 inches (75%).  She's just a super cool kid and a perfect fit for our family.