Gemma Fay at 1

Dear Gemma,

I know, I'm terribly late with this! It has been on my mind for a few weeks but the time to sit down and write just never comes! Life with 2 children requires an incredible juggling act and most of the time I am ok but June was hectic for me and anyway, here I am.

At your 1 year check up you clocked in at a whopping 18lbs.  That, along with your height (26in) brings you to the 5th percentile for both height and weight.  The doctor seemed less than concerned which was a relief after a year of people worrying about your size.  You have steadily gained and so, you are just our little baby!  That said, you still have remarkable strength, demonstrated by kicking the pediatrician clear across the room as she tried to hold you still for an examination, and how you are constantly dragging the furniture around the house.

You have 8 teeth, all hard earned.  You have a little hair still, which is coming in a bit thicker and is starting to curl in the back.  You took your first steps on July 4 and have been practicing since then.  You're not very confident yet but you light up and giggle when you realize what you're capable of.

And speaking of what you are capable of! Gemma,  you are ridiculous.   I'm convinced you're a force to be reckoned with all bottled up in a tiny body.  You understand how things work, you've been able to show us how cognizant you are from about 6 months.  You mime things like putting on sunblock without any prompting.  You know what things are if we ask you to find them, and you are the bravest child I've ever met.  I think because I'm an old timer at being a mom I'm able to let you just go, but the other day you blew my mind when you crawled up a mess of steps at the playground to a level that was above my head, only to get to the twisty slide, sit properly on your bum, and go down the damn slide by your 12 month old self.  I had a bit of a heart attack but I watched you and I just wanted to see how far you'd go... well, the answer is all the way! And I should know better than to expect less.  You've demonstrated this by climbing up and jumping on various chairs & toys and by flinging yourself off our pretty high bed and coming out unscathed.

You have an incredible sense of humor which is coupled with how mischievous you are.  You know you are up to no good and CUTE when you make a certain face with a big grin and a sparkle in your eye.  You love your sister fiercely, and I mean that to the farthest extent.  You scream and writhe with glee when she enters the room in the morning and you love to yank her hair and climb all over her.  You are fierce and intense with everything you do, actually.  Still constantly YELLING and letting us know (LOUDLY) the second you are not pleased. 

For the most part your sleep has gotten much better, and you usually sleep from 7-8  through 5am.  You are wildly unpredictable though, and sometimes cry for an hour before bed before zonking out, or sometimes you wake up at 3am.  Your dad is amazing at getting you down at night, and I can generally squeeze another hour of sleep from you by taking you to bed with me, but I'll admit, I am anxious for you to work this out a bit more.  Avi still sleeps solidly around your noisy protests, so at least that works :)

Your first word was "banana" and you said it 2 times and haven't said it again.  Now you're saying "HI" very often and I think you're trying for "book" too.  You wave and blow kisses and dance and clap your hands and sing too. You have a voracious appetite and will eat everything you are given.

I think back on this year and I'll admit, you definitely gave me a run for my money.  Your intensity is overwhelming on almost a daily basis and I have found that my patience has increased about 10 fold since you were about 3 months old.  Since you've been actively mobile you've mellowed, and you play by yourself (making huge messes) and with your sister.  We are looking forward to you learning to speak and we hope that will help you tone down the yelling a bit :)  But the truth is, you amaze me every day.  You are so, so, so, so busy and always on the go, yet you always stop for a second to get a kiss or a cuddle from your mama.  You are very attached to me, in a way that Avi never was, and I cherish it.  I love watching you do your thing, I love making you laugh so I can see those adorable gap teeth you've got on top, and I love how you just need to hold my hand for everything to be ok.  You are a tiny little tornado and you are perfect.

All my love,

Mama