12+ Months of Raising a Wildflower

Holy! There is literally SO much that has happened since the last post, which is also why this one is so delayed! I'm glad though, because now I can finally lay it all down in words since you're an experienced ONE YEAR OLD, the holidays have come and gone, and the super exciting news is now well-known that you're going to be a BIG SISTER in July! Yay!!!!! I can joke that I have been "slacking", but I think we've just been busy living our happy life together, making memories, soaking in even the slowest and most mundane days, and living in the moment. Life is best that way.

I also must say that considering how crazy and perhaps dreaded the notion of your baby turning one is, speaking from experience now, it actually comes and goes quite anti-climactically. I am not saying that your birthday wasn't a HUGE exciting ordeal, because it was exactly that, but I am quite relieved that there was no ugly crying on my end, or some sort of anxiety-induced panic attack had because you are now considered to be a toddler. I am pleased to say that all was calm and joyful. I think I was more than used to you being my little "big girl", since you started walking at 9 months, and never slowed down from that point forward. I had much time to grow with the idea of you no longer being my baby in the physical sense. In addition to that, once I found out that I was pregnant (which was right before your birthday), you suddenly seemed much more grown up to me. I mean, you were officially a "big" sister; and although nothing about you seems big other than your amazing personality and perhaps your eyeballs, I started looking at you in a new light (which is super flattering by the way!)

I am thrilled to have you as my little momma / sidekick. I truly cannot wait for you to bloom and grow this year, and it blows my mind thinking about the many ways in which you will change all over again. You will start speaking in sentences this year, which means that we can carry on conversations about the most random of things! You will also figure out how to do many things on your own, make many new and bigger messes I am sure, observe and copy my mothering ways and use them on your dollies and little sibling, and just fill my heart with even more love and admiration like you do so well.

After a full year of having a daughter, I can honestly say that it's the greatest job ever, and I am so very lucky to have YOU as mine! The past year with you has been the most fun, and although life as we know it will soon change and our household dynamic will differ greatly with our new addition, I will always have this year to look back upon and cherish for all that it was.

Our bond though, my dear first born, will always be special no matter what changes occur. No one will ever be able to take it away from us, and we will always have our own time together, I promise. Momma will have another baby to love and hold, who will require my attention a lot of the time, but you will never be put on the back-burner, or go without any of my affection, time, or love. It's you and I, girl. You're still going to be at my side, because that's where you belong. I am so ready to take on this change together, and I know that you are going to be the BEST BEST BEST sister EVER! This baby is so lucky to come into this world and family because they will get to meet and love Rowan Penelope, the most amazing toddler there ever was! I'm very excited for you, and although I am sure that there will be times in your childhood when you will fail to see the point of having a sibling (been there, done that, once suggested that Nana throw Uncle Joey in the garbage truck as it passed by), I can assure you that you WILL come to see them as a great and irreplaceable gift. They're a built-in best friend, and like I always say, there is never going to be another person who can tell the tale of your childhood and upbringing like they will be able to. I really really love that about having my brother. I also know what being the first born is like, especially as a girl, so I will fully hear and understand your complaints on the difficult and patience-testing days. I will always be here to remind you of the things you will need to hear, whether you want to or not. I'm Momma, that's my job.

What I really want to tell you is that I am so grateful for you being here. You are the girl who made me into a Momma, and I am now more prepared, confident and ready to bring another baby into this world because of you. Thank you for being my greatest teacher, the toughest drill sergeant, best cuddle-giver, and the most beautiful source of constant inspiration. I wouldn't be who or where I am today without you, Rowie P. One year down, and a lifetime of appreciation, love, hugs and kisses to go. I love you so much, kiddo!!!

12+ month stats for Lil' R.P.

Birth weight: 6 lbs, 11.5 oz, 19 inches long

12 months: 21lbs (tinier than I thought at your last appointment)

Eye colour: beautiful greenie hazel

Diaper size: still comfy in size 3, small bum!

Clothing size: 12-18 months in pretty much everything with the occasional 2T outfit being worn

Nickname: Rowbie-Bowbie

What Momma has observed

about you at 12+ months young

You are such a colourful character, and the more you grow, the more evident your quirky personality becomes. You do many things that make me question where exactly you came from, but they also make me love you so much more. From your scrunched up "silly face" that you often make on demand, to your fascination with standing in your training potty, the way you try to snap your fingers, or hold out one of yours and make a zapping sound while touching us, you are so wonderfully weird. I'm pretty certain you would eat an entire bowl of sour cream if I let you, and there aren't enough sparkly shirts in your wardrobe for your liking. Your hair is often out of control even after being brushed numerous times a day, and you are a little kissing machine! I couldn't have made you up better on paper.

You have also learned many new things in this time, like the fact that your finger fits perfectly in your nostrils... Moreover, after watching me wash my face many times, you copy the motions back when you're in the tub, and also apply moisturizer to your face, or sometimes mine. When I had a cough, I pat myself on the chest the one time, and from that point onward, whenever I coughed, you did it for me. You also like to brush your own teeth, but you really just hold the brush still and shake your head back and forth. This is your method when applying my chapstick too.

You also help me clean up! Whenever I grab the broom, you go get your little broom that you got for Christmas. We call it your "sweep sweep", and you enjoy smashing it aggressively against the floor while smiling at me like, "look Momma! I'm helping!" Just the other day I watched you pick something like lint up off the floor, walk to the garbage and lift the lid to throw it away. I am so proud of my very own mini Monica Gellar in training. If the rug in the kitchen lifts at the corners, you fix it every. single. time. You also give "nosey kisses", which is essentially an Eskimo kiss. It's the cutest thing ever, especially when you initiate it yourself by sticking your face out and shaking your head. You say "uppa" 90,000 times a day, which is a multi-use word that apparently means "lift me up", "put me down", "hand me that thing up there / down there". We laugh because sometimes you mouth it to us like you're in distress and need help but no one else can hear or know. You also say "jeez", which is paired with your hands being put on your head, and "chis", which is cheese. You also know what apples are and when I asked you one day, you pointed to one and said "appa"! You love giving high fives, and can now put your arms together to catch a ball. You say "yes" (paired with an exaggerated head nod) to pretty much everything, which is also helpful when I suspect that you've pooped, to which you confirm, "yes", yes you did poop. In addition to yes, you also know "no", which is the shaking of your finger. You can successfully stack your little donut rings and are SO proud of yourself when you do! You clap for yourself after each one goes on, but then again, you clap for yourself whenever you do anything that you know is good! You even clapped for Auntie Roxanne when she closed a cupboard at her house last week. I love that you recognize these things as good behaviour. You're able to find certain things in your books, and look down my shirt whenever I say that there's a baby in my tummy. You also kiss my tummy and pat it doing "nice nice" to the baby because you're so darn sweet. You put your water cup back in the fridge when you're done with it, and you bring me the remote when you want to watch Sesame Street. You've also mastered how to get off of the couch gracefully, by first going onto your tummy, then lowering your legs and sliding off. You are a very clever little girl, and never fail to make me laugh.

You're also a social butterfly just like your father. The one day at the mall we were waiting for our ride while sitting on a bench outside of Winners. A little old lady came to sit beside us and you made it your personal mission to amuse her. You handed her Puffs, you handed her your toy, you kept smiling at her and making your silly face. I think what you did was make her whole day because when she got up to leave, she gave you the biggest smile and sweetest goodbye. You've also taken a liking to Uncle Joey, which only took a year. You now give him hugs and even sit on his lap so that he can read you a book, or play. For Christmas, he bought you your very first pair of Jordan's, little black and white high-tops with pink details. So cute, such an Uncle Joey gift.

Things you absolutely love

Oh lord, where do I even begin? From whip cream on your pancakes, to peek-a-boo books, you're a girl who loves much and easily. You're obsessed with photos and videos of babies (which makes me even more excited for you to realize that soon you will have your very own to love on!) You love stomping around in your hand-me-down Abby and Elmo shoes (often looking down at them while smiling), your kitchen playset that Momma and Daddy got you for your birthday is a hit, taking baths with Momma (we use bath bombs and fill the tub up higher than you're used to), watching and dancing along to Sesame Street song compilations on YouTube, when Daddy pushes you around the house on your Bugsy Wugsy ride-along, ducky crackers, dragging around your little floral muslin blanket from before you were even born, eating at Urban Cravings (it's a plethora of goodness really), your Christmas books even though Christmas is over, the kid's steamed milk from Starbucks (it comes cooled down a bit for perfect drinking temperature), and you're always so happy to have your own cup like us! Just this past weekend, you walked out of Starbucks in your little peacoat, holding your very own cup, while smiling at people on your way out. I kid you not, the whole place collectively shared an "awwwh" moment.

You also love your stuffed animals, including your little tiger and zebra, and this puppy you received for your birthday from one of your friends. You play with your kitchen, pots and pans, food, baby dolls and the crib set we repainted for you for Christmas for the majority of the day, every day. What an appropriate gift to give you the same year we found out that you'd become a big sister! To go with your crib, bassinet and highchair, we also got you a few "I'm a Big Sister" books, since you love books.

You've established your own morning routine now that you seem to enjoy, where you wait in the kitchen for me to give you half of a banana once you finish your bottle! You're my very own little monkey. You also love your job of licking the yogurt off of the spoon when we're making smoothies, and have discovered these organic granola bars that you are a huge fan of. You know exactly where I keep them, and will go stand at the cupboard if you want one. OH! You know how you have never been a real big fan of your car seat? Well, in December we bought you and the baby each a brand new car seat that will last you until you're both old enough to not need them! It's super padded and comfortable, and you clap whenever you are sat in it. I'll take it!

Things you aren't so fond of...

Unfortunately you've been quite good at catching colds or viruses, so the snot sucker is no stranger to you. You absolutely loathe that thing, but you also loathe me whenever I have to corner you to clean your nose. You are not happy when I close the fridge to prevent you from playing inside of it, don't enjoy keeping bows in your hair (good thing I only bought or made you a million of them...), hate when Daddy stops pushing you on Bugsy Wugsy, and you have adopted this new thing when you're mad where you stomp on the spot like you're river dancing, while crying of course. A clear preview of the incoming toddler tantrums that await me I am sure. This past holiday season brought to light the fact that you were NOT a fan of the Santa Clause train at the Pen Centre. Daddy held you and you clung to him for dear life every time it rounded another corner. By the time it finished, you were in tears! Maybe you will like it better next year. You're also traumatized by this singing rocking horse Zia bought you. We sit you on it daily and you just scream, which is way too funny.

Eating Habits

Girl, you eat everything now. You're drinking less than 16 ounces of milk / formula a day, which is 2-3 bottles that are normally had in the morning and at bed time. When we initially started you on homo milk after your birthday, you broke out in this really bad rash. I think going from tummy sensitive formula since birth, to full fat milk just didn't mesh well with your digestive system. Since then, I've given you either 2%, 1%, or the next step in Enfamil, which is specifically for toddlers. You are not reliant on your bottles so much anymore, which is also because you eat three square meals a day, and have snacks in between (toddler granola bars, Puffs, cut up apple or pear, cheese, and so on). Speaking of pears, you go savage on them! The one night I was sharing one with you and letting you take little bites, and your already massive eyes widened, you started grabbing at it, and inevitably ate the majority of it. For the record, if left under Daddy's supervision to eat, tortellini sauce will inevitably end up in your hair because he lets you make the biggest mess possible. Though your typical day-to-day eating habits are on the healthier side, you are no stranger to treats, ESPECIALLY this past holiday season. You tried a ginger molasses cookie bigger than your head, and god only knows how many other goodies people let you try.

Thankfully, every day, you and I love drinking giant smoothies packed with spinach, fruit, Greek yogurt, and flax. We keep your sugar intake to a bare minimum, and I know that you're getting the goodness you need from your meals. You're still the best little eater I know, which makes me hopeful for your incoming little sibling!

Sleeping Pattern

A solid night's sleep is always had, you nap 1-2 times a day (and even if it's a late 6/7 pm nap, you will STILL sleep through the night!) You're still comfortably between Momma and Daddy in our bed during the night, BUT you have just recently began napping in your BIG GIRL BED during the day! We decided to convert your crib since you're the baby who never once slept in it. It just made for an oversized room ornament for an entire year.

I am super grateful for my restful evenings and nights, which is why I am taking advantage of them before I'm back to not sleeping for however long, up at all hours with a newborn once again!

Playtime & Development

Your energy is never in short supply, toddler of mine. From the second you awake, to the second you crash, you do not stop moving. Toys are always everywhere, you have a million things on the go, you dance whenever possible, love being chased, rearranging furniture, enjoy emptying the basket of blankets by the couches, can kick, throw and catch a ball, love playing in boxes because you're strange, being tickled, reading books and the repetition of being asked where certain things are on the pages, pressing buttons on toys and learning how they work, CLIMBING things is your newest endeavour (the couch, your little chair, bath tub, your bed), standing at the stove to wave to or kiss your reflection, waving to people is a huge one now because you do it to literally every one and thing, you love dancing and clapping along to "If You're Happy and You Know It", looking out the window to see squirrels in the tree, or dogs walking by (you get so pumped up and laugh and clap), and running around outside. You're just so much fun, and so darn smart. Watching you figure things out on your own amazes me, and the things you remember are crazy. You are quite good at identifying things for what they are when asked, we just need you to start vocalizing them now! I can only imagine how smart I will think you are when you're actually stringing sentences together.

Dates & Holidays

November 6th, 2018: The day I realized that you would be a BIG SISTER!

What a special memory in retrospect, that you will never even remember! Just another normal day for you and I at home, featuring a fluke pregnancy test strip! You were the first person to know that I was pregnant, mainly because I yelled out that you would be a big sister as I squeezed you! With the timing of it all, and your birthday being right around the corner, I planned on keeping it top secret regardless of how far along I was because I didn't want to take anything away from your birthday month. Instead, we just secretly cheered, got all of the standard appointments started once again, and the best part of all is that this time you're here with me to watch your little sibling grow healthy and strong! You have been to every ultrasound, regular appointment, bloodwork appointment, and always look at me like I have 6 heads when you see me laying on the doctor's table. You may not know what the heck is going on, but when I tell you that a baby is in Momma's tummy, you look down my shirt then kiss my belly. You're the sweetest sister already, and since we have made the news public, you've been sporting "big sister" shirts! It was only appropriate to let you share our news, enthusiastically posing with the sonogram photos! Morin Party of 4, coming this July!

November 24th, 2018: The day you turned ONE, birthday girl!

You woke up to discover your play kitchen and accessories that we personalized for you, then Momma and Daddy took you for a special birthday breakfast at Matteo's downtown, where Nana and Zia met us. We spent quality time together as a family, and getting ready for your big Sesame Street bash the following day. Like I stated earlier, no tears were shed; it was a happy day celebrating our favourite girl in the whole entire universe!

November 25th, 2018: Your Sesame Street Birthday Bash!

Such a fun day! You were a little tutu-wearing Cookie Monster, Daddy wore an Elmo shirt, and Momma was a yellow-feathered Big Bird! There were Sesame balloons galore, themed out food and drinks, decorations and details everywhere you looked, and a whole room full of people who love you! You ate some of your Grover-face cake, got an overwhelming amount of gifts, and slept like a little baby that night. I know that parents these days tend to go overboard for a first birthday that their child will never remember, but I think it stems from a place of pure joy and gratitude because you just find yourself so fortunate to be a parent, and of course you're going to celebrate that and the person who made you into one. There's nothing I would change about your party. It turned out just as smoothly as I hoped, and was definitely a day that I enjoyed being a part of as your very proud Momma!

November 27th, 2018: Your first doctor's appointment as a certified "toddler"

Okay, this was a standard run-of-the-mill appointment, but you're officially too big for the horizontal scale where you lay down, so you had to stand on the big scale. IT TUGGED AT MY MOMMA HEARTSTRINGS WATCHING YOU TAKE THE LADY'S HAND AND STEP UP ONTO IT!!!

The second half of December: holiday time!

The lead-up to Christmas was well enjoyed especially because Daddy was off for 11 days with us! In that time, we took you to Bass Pro for the second year in a row to see Santa (you didn't cry!), got lots of shopping done with Nana (Daddy even came shopping at the Pen with all of us girls the one day), had pancake breakfasts here at home, and we spent time with extended family.

For Christmas Eve, we went to Hamilton. You got to hang with Matteo, got even more presents, and got to see Momma's side of the family. The following morning was your second Christmas ever! You awoke to your baby doll set and loved playing with it instantly. As per tradition, Nana and Uncle Joey came over to open presents and watch Christmas movies, then that afternoon we went to Grandma and Grandpa's. You and Marielle even had on matching dresses that Grandma had bought you both. We had supper there that night and you played the entire time!

Our New Years Eve was nice and quiet, just the way I prefer it to be. We went to Uncle Frank's, ate a steak dinner, watched movies, were home by 10:30, and all three of us were sound asleep before midnight even rolled around! Just as well, because you got a nasty fever due to some incoming teeth. Happy New Year to you!

Lastly, from your Momma's perspective

I've referred to us as the “Morin Party of 3” since I was pregnant with you. It filled, and still fills my heart with all of the love in the world to know that it’s a term I use when referring to my family; an incredible thing that I helped create, and something that I live for, no questions asked. Lately I’ve been calling us the “Morin Party of 4”, and it still feels very surreal to me to know that I’m blessed once again to keep growing our family.

I have no idea who your sibling will be, or what they will look like. I don’t know what attributes they will inherit from Daddy and I, and so forth, but I do know that they will be spectacular. I know this because I know you, and you’ve shown me what love adds up to, and what it’s capable of producing. You are living proof that your Dad and I have made some very significant decisions in our life together, and you and your sister or brother will always always be our greatest achievements.

I really thought that being pregnant with you was the greatest year of my life. I thought that right up until I spent this past year with you, watching you grow right before my eyes. I thought that I felt like a mother while I was carrying you on the inside, but I realize now that it’s a completely different feeling of confidence and reassurance when you’re carrying your baby around on the outside, through the days of small victories, and ones of great obstacles.

Writing to my sweet little girl and first born for the first year of your life has been a great pleasure and privilege of mine. I hope that you look back on all of this one day and smile. I hope that you smile because you will already know that you’re my entire world, and that you have been from the start, but of course reading it again will never hurt. I can’t wait to see you shine as a big sister, Rowan. I can't wait to see you do and achieve many things.

You will always fill a section of my heart that no one else ever will. It's a spot that was always meant for you, my beautiful Rowan Penelope.

With all of my love, my first born.

XOXOXO, Momma