Matilda is ONE!

Today is Matilda Jane’s first birthday.  It’s almost impossible to believe that this hilarious (not so little) girl who can walk and climb and talk (Mama, Daddy, brother, hello) was still living inside me a year ago.  Last year felt interminable – pregnancy is a long, slow process of gradual change.  This year was a whirlwind of constant changes and adaptation, but it was also one of our happiest years yet.

Oh, just lounging ...

Hipsters on a chilly spring day

The first year with Rowan felt much slower, almost dragging at times.  Before he had surgery at 10 months to correct his strabismus (crossed eyes) he was struggling with some developmental milestones (crawling, climbing, etc.)  Everything seemed to speed up (and his overall mood improved) once his eye muscles were corrected.  Fortunately, Matilda was spared the strabismus trouble and she was on a much more regular schedule of developmental milestones this past year.  Plus, seeing two kids learn and grow together has been exciting and new.

 

Faux vintage Easter portrait

More Easter fun

Ridiculous

I suppose Matilda is technically a toddler now.  She can stand up unassisted and walk reasonably well all around the house, although she still occasionally drops onto her butt or trips and goes sprawling.  Her balance is quite good, though – I’ve seen her pull off some pretty impressive saves when she’s tripped or slipped.  She can squat and carry objects while she walks.  She’s been able to climb up for a few months now, but about three weeks ago she suddenly figured out how to go down backwards on her belly.  It’s pretty much the cutest thing ever. 

 

THE CUTEST

This is accurate.

It’s funny to see her move around so easily, because she still looks like a baby, albeit a very large one (she is in large 18 month clothes now, and 2T shorts and tees fit just fine.)  She hasn’t lost much of her “baby fat” yet, even with all the walking and climbing.  She still has the baby rolls on her arms and legs and she has some curls coming in, but her hair isn’t getting long or thick yet.  She still prefers to eat like a baby, too.  Most days she’s still taking 5-6 bottles and only occasionally eats a full “meal” of solid foods.  She sits in her high chair at the table for every meal and we offer her whatever we’re having.  Sometimes she wants a bunch, and sometimes just a taste.  Some meals all she wants is some bread and maybe a little applesauce or yogurt.  And occasionally she just throws everything on the floor and yells at us until she’s excused from the table. 

 

Babies be nappin'

It’s a process.  I roll my eyes every time an “expert” claims that “all kids” can do anything exactly the same, including eating a wide variety of foods.  Rowan is high strung and craves routine and rituals.  Even if we had pushed harder when he was younger, he’d still need to control his eating, just like he does with all aspects of his life (play, cleaning, bedtime, etc.)  We are hoping to avoid the same extreme pickiness with Matilda by offering more foods earlier, but I think even if she does end up being less picky, it will be because of her personality more than anything we do.   

 

He really is a happy kid.

Thomas Photo Bomb!

Matilda continues to be a rather poor sleeper, although we have seen some definite improvement these past couple weeks (fingers crossed.)  She’s still often agitated in the evening and has a really hard time settling (the recent heat and humidity seems to be part of the problem.)  But lately, she’s only been getting up once or twice in the night, if at all.  Last weekend, we visited my parents and the first night was a repeat of my previous visit – she just could not stay asleep in the crib and ended up sleeping next to me while Ben bunked with Rowan (who didn’t even notice.  Like, at all.)  I was discouraged.  But then the next night, miraculously, she slept through the night!  Ben and I were amazed (and well-rested.)  Hopefully she keeps trending towards sleep competence.

 

Memorial Weekend at the "beach" :D

Naps are still a problem.  By the time he was one, Rowan went down for a nap in his crib with no problem.  Matilda still wakes up as soon as we put her down most of the time.  It’s proving to be impossible to get her on a set nap schedule, plus Rowan has to be picked up from school at 3:00 so her window is limited.  I’m hoping that this summer with our more open schedule we can play around with routines and figure out a time frame that works for her and us.

This is also accurate.

#summergoals

Our summer plans are already piling up and I know it will go by way too fast.  I have my usual goals – working on the garden, getting to the beach a few times, reading, making art, and visiting friends and family.  I’m hoping to get some much-needed work on the house done.  I am also psyching myself up for setting my alarm most days.  I need to get up and get moving.  I need to take better care of myself and I want more energy.  I want to make the days last longer.