12 months old!

I am really late posting this, so it's actually more like a 12 1/2 month update.  I don't think I'll keep up with the monthly updates for Anna's second year.  Every three months or so will probably be more practical.  But even though this one is really late, I need to do it because I feel like Anna has really changed a lot in the last several weeks!

One of Anna's biggest changes is her desire to explore.  Up until about a month ago, she had been pretty content to stay wherever we were at.  Not the case anymore!  She is off and about, exploring everything and finding new things to get into every day.  One of her biggest discoveries is climbing the stairs!  She used to pretty much leave them alone, only attempting to climb them to follow Derek or I when we went upstairs and usually only making it a few steps. Now she climbs all the way to the top any chance she can get.  We don't have a gate yet, but we'll probably end of buying one because we're getting pretty tired of chasing her up the stairs.  She hasn't tried to go down them yet---she'll sit at the top of the stairs, acting like she wants to try, but isn't sure how to go about doing it.

Anna said her first official word this month! "Dada!"  The first time she said it and definitely meant Daddy, I was sitting with her in her room before Derek left for work.  He came and poked his head in her doorway and as soon as she spotted him, she said "Dada!"  She says it now almost every time she sees him. (I'm working every day on coaxing a "Mama" out of her, but so far, no luck haha).

Anna also recognizes and responds to lots of words now.  She knows hi, bye, and night-night.  (She waves when she hears all three.)  She knows "yay!" (Smiles and claps).  She dances when you say "dance."  She will point to her "nose" and sometimes her "mouth" and "tummy".  She knows "book" and "baby" and "puppy."  She knows "hungry" and starts doing a little puckered-lip pout if you say it and she wants to be fed.  She knows "come here" and "more" and "all gone."    She also knows "no-no" but doesn't like to respond to that one much. We're working on that.  :)

Anna graduated from her infant carrier to a new convertible carseat. (Thanks Grandma Karry!)  It's pretty big and just barely fits in the back seat of our little Malibu.  But she seems to like it. The car is still one of her favorite places to sleep. 

Snuggled up on a long car ride from Mitchell to Bismarck last weekend.

Anna loves to stand now and pulls herself up any chance she can get.  She is pretty pro at walking along all the furniture.  Just in the last week, Anna has started standing up by herself without holding onto anything.  She can only hold it for a few seconds, but it's exciting!

Now for the not so fun stuff.  Anna's increased mobility and independence have made meal time more of a challenge.  She always wants to hold the spoon herself and gets mad if you try to do it for her.  She does not like to sit in her high chair anymore and is constantly twisting around and trying to wiggle her way out.  She also has decided throwing food on the floor is a super fun game.  And she knows we don't like it.  She looks right at me and slowly moves her fistful of food over the side of her highchair. And as soon as I start to say "no," she lets go.  Little stinker!  We laughed when her doctor gave us a little sheet on "What to expect at 12 months" and it said, "Your child will start to test parental response to actions such as throwing food on the floor."  At least we know it's normal!

Anna has also just started to throw little tantrums when she doesn't get her way.  It's usually over the silliest little thing.  Yesterday, I took away a gum wrapper she found on the floor and she immediately threw herself face-down on the floor and started screaming.  Sheesh!  It was only a wrapper, kid! Luckily, her little fits never last long.  She quickly gets distracted by something else!

Anna is starting to get her first molar, and it seems to be more painful coming in than her other teeth.  She's been having a hard time sleeping at night because of it.  I don't know if that's unusual, to get a molar this early and before her canine teeth come in?  It is definitely poking through though!

While there have been a lot of changes, some things are still the same.  Anna still loves dancing, clapping, and waving.  She still jabbers away all day long.  And she is still super social and makes friends wherever she goes.  It's kind-of ridiculous sometimes.  For example, over Christmas, we went out to eat at a Thai restaurant with Derek's dad.  We were sitting up front and Anna kept smiling and waving at the hostess.  The hostess eventually came over and asked if she could hold her, and then she held and played with Anna for probably 15 minutes!  Another instance was when we flew to South Dakota last weekend.  Anna kept smiling and waving at the lady next to us.  The lady was really nice, and by the end of the flight, she had Anna sitting on her lap.  No stranger danger yet for this little gal!

Here's a little video of Anna.  I was trying to get her to hug and kiss her doll, but she was more interested in the camera. :)

Anna sure does have her own, unique personality.  She is happy, silly, fun-loving, and independent.  I love it!  I can't wait until she can talk and tell us everything that goes on in that little head of hers.  I'm sure she will have very interesting things to tell us!