Steppin' On Up

...Then, and now...

"I really want to go out there! I have my boots on and I'm ready!"

Struttin' her stuff in rain gear over p.j.s

Like a little joey, Sunny cozied up with Nauntie when the rain started pouring down: Buddies.

Climbing and tasting, two favorite things.

She was so pleased to find Grandpa in her fort.

***
It's hard to believe a year has flown by since we met our little Sunny. Yet when I look at these pictures of Sunny then and now, it really hits home. We welcomed a baby who’s grown into a tiny, feisty, sweet and independent person. It feels like we've all come so far together, in a great way. This past year Max and I learned more (and faster) than ever before...except, perhaps for the period when we were Sunny's age. We’ve become more resourceful, intuitive and creative. Meanwhile, Sunny gains new skills by the hour. Our powerhouse pixie can walk up the stairs, while holding our hands, taking one step at a time. She also walks about two blocks, holding our hands, before she wants to sit for a bit. She's started taking her own steps toward us from her balanced standing position. She loves to control the stereo and dance. She even dances when we clap rhythms. She claps a lot in celebration. She plays peek-a-boo with gusto and happy giggles. She overhears tidbits of conversation and jumps right in - Nauntie is Na-na, Milk is Me-me, etc. I’ve had to start saying “the m word” for milk if I don’t want her to hear me and demand it with “Me-me!” and signing. She repeats a new word she hears at least once a day. Sunny points at everything, identifying much of it accurately/proudly: Cats, dogs, balls, butterflies, trees, flowers, people... She’s sassy, silly, assertive and happy. She loves to babble to us as if she’s fluently speaking a language we just haven’t learned yet. It's so sweet that her favorite word is "Da-da. " When she sees him, "Da-da!" Whenever he's away, while she's looking outside, pointing: "Da-da?" When she sees something she loves, or feels proud of herself, "da-da-da-da-da" in a conspiratorial little whisper. What fun it will be to watch who she becomes and what she learns during the next year!

Good night, Sunny K. Tomorrow, birthday girl, you’ll be SO much bigger.