Welcome to Toddler-hood

One of the greatest perks of toddler-hood has been the amount of moving Avonlea Jane can do. She is crawling around the house and walking whenever she can. She would now prefer to walk somewhere than crawl if she has something to hold onto. Now she only needs one of our hands to hold in order to walk. Any day now she'll embark on her own. With all of this moving, she's spending a good deal of energy, so she is napping more now than she has since infancy. It's fabulous! Avonlea Jane went from being a cat-napper to a toddler on a self-imposed schedule. She now prefers to sleep at 1:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. We could set a watch by when she gets tired, and if we don't have her in bed by 1:02 p.m., a melt-down may ensue. She even followed this schedule on our drives to and from Indiana. Even if she had been sleeping in the car from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., if we were at lunch at 1:00, she would nearly fall asleep at the table.

This week she had her one-year check-up (albeit late). She weighed exactly 20 pounds and is 29.5 inches tall. She's had a growth spurt lately, but she's still little compared to others her age. She's in great health, is eating like a champion, and is developmentally right on track. Her doctor was impressed with both her charm and her communication skills.

Avonlea Jane trying on one of the last of her new Christmas outfits while signing "light"

Another pretty Christmas dress

And, we don't normally show fussy baby pictures, but this photo was taken right when naptime should have started.

Avonlea Jane is done trying on clothes.

Playing in the bedroom in her last new outfit