13 Months Old

We spent our weekend putting up Christmas lights outside, hanging garland, filling the window boxes with evergreen boughs, and sticking red dogwood twigs in planters. We're definitely in the Christmas spirit this year...for the first time in a long time.

Magnolia is 13 months old today. I can't believe it. Looking back at our photos from China she looks like such a baby without much muscle tone. Now she is a vibrant, healthy baby with rosy cheeks and a lot of smiles. She's walking pretty steadily now and mimicking everything. She does a lot of sign language and is also very vocal. She continues to love books and is constantly bringing me books to read to her. She prefers salt over sugar. One of her favorite things is taking lids on and off things. She can also put the rings on the pyramid toy and stack more than 2 blocks at a time. She hugs and kisses spontaneously and calls us "ma", and "da", and herself "mama." She kisses any baby and anytime she hears the word "baby" she does the sign for it. Today it was in the "Yo Baby Yogurt" commercial. She loves to bring me things and when I say "thank you," she says, "dat." She answers "yes" a lot by grunting and nodding her head. She knows the signs for more, milk, water, eat, baby, all done, thank you, and duck. I'm sure I'm forgetting other new things she does but just wanted to blog what I can think of now as this is becoming her only baby book. She makes me smile and laugh all of the time. It is so much fun to watch her grow. Happy 13 months Magnolia! xoxoxoxo