clara at 12 months

Dear Clara,

What a year! It seems like just yesterday we brought you home. You were almost 10 pounds and 10 inches smaller then. Your eyes were dark blue instead of bright blue. Your hair was darker too, and there was less of it.

Since last month, your biggest achievement has been learning how to walk. One Tuesday two weeks ago, you just decided that you could do it. In the morning when we dropped you off, you were still hesitantly holding onto table legs and crawling to get to where you needed to go. When I picked you up, they told me that you walked outside! You were standing in the grass and you just decided to go!

At Kat and Josh's house, we practiced walking to me, walking to Uncle Josh, walking to cheese, and by the time your dad arrived at the end of the night, you walked to greet him at the door. It was pretty incredible. Since then, you have been wandering all over the house. You've taken a few tumbles, but mostly you are steady on your feet.

We had a big party for your birthday. Mostly it was your grown up friends, because it was also Sascha's birthday. You opened presents and ate all kinds of crazy foods. You played with balloons and dogs and watched the fire glow. You stayed up really late and then refused to sleep in the next morning.

Next week, we are transitioning you into the big kid room at daycare, so that you can stick with your friends from the baby room. You are walking very well now, drinking out of a cup and eating on your own. It's been a month now since you ate anything pureed nicely and without mess.

Next month, we are going to see your extended family in Brazil. It will be your first time (and mine!) to the southern hemisphere, your first tourist visa, your first trip to the beach. Stay tuned!