One Step at a Time

Katherine, you are learning new things every day. Some days they are little things like figuring out how to take off your bib we just lovingly put on you before starting to eat (adults don’t wear bibs when they eat, why should you?)

But then, there are some days, where months of trying and failing and trying again lead to having a lifelong skill. This past week was one of those days. You have been walking by holding daddy’s and my hands for quite some time, you have been cruising along furniture and walls, you have been standing up, fallen down and gotten back up many, many times, sometimes even taking a little step or two. But this past week everything changed. One evening we were playing in the living room, you stood, holding my hands when all of a sudden you let go and you walked, on your own – putting one foot in front of the other one as you walked across the room.
Just like that you got it, and the look on your face, full of joy, said it all. I am so proud of you.

You are teaching me that no matter how hard we have to try to learn a new skill it’ll be worth it. If we fail (and fall down) at first, we’ll have to try as many times as it takes, but never, never give up. You remind me every day to look at life’s possibilities not its limitations. I love you always and forever.

Taking Control of your Life

Katherine, I am amazed how you are taking a little more control of your life every day. You have a strong opinion which food you like (or don’t like)… and in which order you like me to hand you your food – you are very good at gestures clearly signalling yes or no. And feeding you with a spoon is not an option at this point, it’s all about finger food that you can put in your mouth yourself (however, we have agreed to compromise when it comes to soup – thank you for that).

There is one other area of your life where you have made it very clear that you are in control. You love to put music on when we are at home. Your daddy has programmed our stereo equipment so that you have access to a Bavarian Kids radio station which is your absolute favourite and has upbeat German kid’s music – he has set it up for you so that you have one-button access to turn it on yourself (in a height that you can reach)… and you often crawl over to the stereo system to start the music on your own. One the tunes are playing, some days you sit on the floor for a while and tap your hands on your legs to the beat, and other days a big smile appears on your face as you crawl back to your toys to play.

You are teaching me that being in control of our lives is important. There are many things you cannot control, yet you have found simple, but important ways for you to feel that you have a say in what’s going on. Thank you for reminding me that it’s not always about the big things, little things matter too. I love you always and forever.

Acquired Taste

Katherine, oh it’s been a while since I wrote to you. You are growing and changing so quickly and as you are becoming more mobile your daddy and I are having our hands full catching up with you… and keeping your little hands out of things they shouldn’t be in (yes, that includes flower pots).

We were having so much fun together the other day going out to a restaurant for lunch. While we always pack back-up food for you when we go out (your favourite cereal and some fruit are almost always in your bag, just in case) – we are always open for you to try the food where we eat out… and did you surprise us. Your daddy had ordered a French Onion soup, and after he had a taste and shared some spoonfuls with me, you enthusiastically pointed to the soup bowl. Since that’s what you wanted, we gave you a little taste… which resulted in a big smile on your face and more pointing towards the soup bowl (we happily obliged and daddy kept sharing the soup with you). You love French Onion soup!

You are teaching me to always try new things and be open to new experiences. Some things we try in life we’ll like, and some we won’t – and that’s ok, but at least we’ll have tried. I hope you’ll always keep that sense of adventure (yes, at 13 months, every new experience is an adventure) and remind me to do the same. I love you always and forever.

Happy Birthday

Katherine, you are one year old… Happy Birthday!!

So many people who see you tell me they can’t believe a year has passed already since you were born. But to me this past year didn’t feel like it went too fast – we have spent so many amazing moments together and it felt like a year well lived.

Your birthday has been a special day – daddy and I decided to make it all about you. We spend the whole day playing together and had lots of fun. Knowing that you don’t like big crowds of people, we opted for skipping the idea of a big birthday party and had a small celebration with just the three of us in our living room (yes, on the floor – where better to have cake and presents… and a big balloon too). You got your first taste of cake (I made you a cherry cake with cherries picked in the summer from our backyard) – yum!

You are teaching me to enjoy the moments, the days, weeks and months. I feel privileged to have been part of your first year, every day has been a gift. This journey we are on together is nothing short of amazing and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings. I love you always and forever.

Happy New Year

Katherine, it’s a new year – welcome to 2012!

Your first New Year’s eve was calm, relaxed and perfect all in one. We stayed home, had a great dinner and lots of cuddles and playtime.

Every day is special for you and brings with it new experiences and new skills. You are growing by leaps and bounds. No, really, I mean it literally… just this morning when I wanted to dress you I had to put 3 shirts aside that didn’t fit you anymore and I have to admit the pants you were wearing all day were a little on the short side (didn’t the pant legs still reach down to the socks the other day??)

With your physical growth comes more strength and balance as well. You have figured out how to stand up from sitting by pulling yourself up on furniture and you are cruising around the living room with your snazzy walker.

You are teaching me that a New Year’s celebration at midnight isn’t complete without including you. As responsible parents we didn’t want to wake you at that time of night (ok, and we didn’t want to think about how difficult it would be to get you back to sleep if we would), but when your daddy and I wished each other a happy new year with a glass of champagne at midnight, we looked at each other and agreed that you were missing from our celebration. So we tip-toed into your room, kissed you gently and had a silent moment together welcoming the new year and all it will bring.

Happy New Year baby girl, may 2012 be a year filled with joy, happiness and health.

Christmas 2011

Katherine, you have experienced your first Christmas… the lights, the sounds and the experiences.

They say baby’s first Christmas is more about the parents than the child – and that held so true especially before Christmas. We went to see Santa (luckily he was stopping by the mall, so we didn’t need to travel all the way up to the North Pole); you were rather not impressed by me wanting a picture taken of you on Santa’s lap. Fair enough; we compromised on me holding you while sitting beside Santa.

We had a low-key celebration on Christmas Eve, just daddy, you and me… our little family and it was perfect. Lots of giggles and cuddles, playtime with new toys and a beautiful walk with all three of us on Christmas day.

You are teaching me that Christmas is as special as any other day when we make it so. This Christmas wasn’t about the presents, but about being present in every moment… that was the true gift of Christmas.

Merry Christmas baby girl!

Personality

Katherine, you are definitely developing your own personality. And we can already tell that part of your personality is a strong will. I get to watch you test your boundaries (and yes, sometimes that can be a bit frustrating for both of us); but it’s a necessary part of growing as a person and I know there will be a lot more of it in the coming months and years.

In the past few days this has played out with choices you make around food. Up to now it’s been easy – we put food in front of you or in your mouth and apart from a few things you don’t like, you ate most of it. But since a few days you are making very clear choices – if we put something in front of you that you don’t feel like eating, you push the fork away before it reaches you (and yep, I said fork – you don’t like to be fed with a spoon unless it’s food an adult would eat with a spoon too).

Months ago I read that it’s the parents responsibility to put healthy food in front of a child, but it’s the child’s responsibility to choose what and how much of that they eat. Will I force you to eat your broccoli? No. But I am learning to offer you a few of different choices, lining them up in front of you and hand you what you point to. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to not be able to say what you want, so until you do, keep pointing at the food you like to eat and I’ll do my best to “listen”.

You are teaching me that every person, no matter how tall or small, how young or old deserves to be respected. Seeing how you make more of your own choices, I know that as much as I love you and like to cuddle you all the time, it is important for you to grow more independent every day.

PS: sliced veggies are hiding well between your noodles… but that’s my little secret for now.