My baby girl, no longer a baby?

Eleanor Grace turned 1yr old on March 14, 2010. Here she was just a year ago.

And now she looks like this.

I am amazed at how much changes in just a year. A year ago when I was told how fast this time flies by a part of me knew that it was true but I think it was hoping that somehow with my baby girl it just wouldn't really happen. Ellie was such a sweet baby. She started sleeping through the night at only 4weeks old. She never had any problems with taking regular naps, she listened :) as much as babies listen, and when she began cutting teeth she wasn't and still hasn't been one of those babies that wakes up all night long from the pain and discomfort. And now we've seemed to come to a new turning point in the adventure of raising her.

Now she throws little temper tantrums, and yes a 1yr old can throw quite a good tantrum, she no longer likes her bath time one which she used to love. She no longer will just lay down and go to sleep whenever you want her to but insists on staying up until she's good and ready for bed...this has been such a fun battle of the wills for the two of us. She no longer drinks formula but has whole milk and not from a bottle but from a sippie. Oh, i do miss holding her as she ate.

And did I mention how she likes to shove and hit other children who are in her way...(yeah, not good...lol and again a battle that I'm determine not to let her win.)

But even with these changes comes many positive ones. Such as watching her excitingly open her B-day presents with very little help from mommy. And then there's playing dress up, she likes to take mommy's head bands and place them on top of her head and hear those around her say "oh, you look so pretty." She likes to stack play with the stack up toys and everyday she's getting more braver to take a few steps on her own. She can walk but she's just not ready to do it all by herself yet. Silly girl.

As exhausted as I am expecting to be with a 1yr old and a new born baby I am determined to really soak up the time when Zachary is just a baby...and in the process of adoring his growth I am also determined to enjoy watching Ellie grow, and enjoy getting the priveledge of being her mommy. I never thought I could find so much satisfaction by doing what God created me to do. I fought it for a long time, I fought the role that He called me to play in this life, as if somehow it wasn't important.

I'm glad that Ellie has changed a lot in just 1yr and I'm glad that Zachary could be born anyday now but most likely won't be until the end of the month ;)...but I love how God has grown and challenged me through it all. It's funny the silly but truthful things one can learn from watching Veggie Tales with their child...Father's do know best...