Happy Birthday baby girl. I can't believe it has been a year! For your birthday, we went to dinner at Red Robin. Not a fancy place, but you love it. We came home and had ice cream cup cakes and opened presents. You got a ton of stuff, a learning home, bubbles (your favorite), blocks, a ball pit and a bunch of other little things that I have already given you. Your grandjan gave you a stroller for your dolly and a pop up activity center. Your grandmax gave you a box with her voice recorded reading to you. I could go on and on, trust me, you have a ton of stuff!

Now, I will go into detail at some point, but you almost died on us a few times after you were born. You are healthy now, but you spent the first 8 days of your life in the hospital in the NICU. For that reason, your dad and I decided that you will have a birthday week. When you have brother or sister, I will have to reevaluate this.

This has been the best year of my life! I love you soooooo much.

Talking and signing

Everyday we are learning new things!! The other night you said "Da Da!" You babble a ton, but this was directed at your Daddy. I thought your dad was going to cry he was thrilled.
Over the last 24 hours you started signing for "milk" when you want to nurse!! You are so smart. You are blowing lots of kisses now too. We went to Dallas for a visit and you were blowing them to everyone.

We had so much fun in Dallas. We went to the zoo and to the aquarium. You loved the penguins and the giraffes at the zoo. You loved everything about the aquarium. When we move back we will get memberships to both. Honestly, I loved them as much or more than you did. I love animals and the Dallas Zoo is exceptional! The San Antonio Zoo, not so much, but it will do while we are here. I bought a membership there, and we have been several times. I wish it were nicer for the animals that live there.

Right now you are a Mickey Mouse fan, so we bought you a ton of MM stuff for your birthday. We stopped in Georgetown today to see Grandjan and Bob and she threw a little birthday party for you, complete with MM plates, cups, napkins and decorations. You also got a MM cake and balloon!!

I can't believe you are almost 1!!! I loving watching you learn and develop, but it all seems like it is flying by. You are the greatest gift I have ever been given.

Sweet bug! You took three steps tonight!!! Your daddy was coaxing you with mini, M&M's and like any Friedman girl, you moved. You also started blowing kisses in the last few days. Today, you really got it down. Our other new favorite thing is when you clench your fists and pull your mouth down and open your eyes, like you are straining. It is soooo cute, you do it just to make us laugh. You are so funny. You are on your tummmy, sleeping with us and you just sat up with your eyes closed and fell backward. Luckily, there are pillows and you just felling into them and are back asleep.

We love you and I can't believe your birthday is coming up!! Oh, your daddy was promoted and we are so excited. Yay Daddy!!!

Love you sweet baby!

Mommy