3 Southern Belles

My little Clara-belle, you are almost one year old. On Sunday, you will be 11 months old, and to me that might as well be one year. All of the sudden, you just look older. You aren't so pocket-sized anymore, you're finally in 9-12 month clothing, and they are so different.
You crack us all up with your constant smiles and laughter. And oooooh the laughter. Since you had your ear tubes in, your laughter is amazing. You have always been happy, but now you are ecstatic. Your laughter shakes the walls it is so loud. My favorite part, is when you wake up. You are up, we hear you, but when we go get you you bury your head in our shoulders and shut your eyes tight against the light. Does it hurt your eyes that badly? Or is it just so cozy to snuggle down in there? You still manage to smile though. That Clara smile that peaks out from the corner of your mouth, with your eyes scrunched up so tight.
Another way I know you're busy growing, is that you are eating constantly! There are times you just can't get enough! Especially your bottles, ooh you love that milk! You have taken nicely to formula which you get every now and then, but thank goodness for that giant freezer we bought to store all of that liquid gold that I so busily made for you for 10 1/2 months! That seems to still be your favorite.
I must say, I've never seen a baby stuff their mouth quite as well as you do. You don't just eat, you inhale. Macaroni and cheese doesn't stand a chance againt the fistfuls you attack it with, the same with your staple -- Cheerios. You have made it quite clear, that most baby food is becoming off limits. You still don't mind theh spaghetti mix and the lasagna mix, but you don't want anything to do with those vegetable mixtures, you just want the real thing. (Although I was told today that the other day when I sent some baby food to school that had peas in it, that you ever so carefully masticated each bite of food and then promptly popped each pea that was in there out of your mouth. patooey -- there went a pea, plop -- there went another. I haven't seen that, but maybe that explains why the floor looks like it does after you are finished eating....
Finally, Clara, my favorite thing that you do right now is wave. You wave good night, you wave hello. You wave furiously at your cuteness in the mirror. You wave at the computer each time we sit down, thinking that someone will be there waiting to talk to you.
We love you Clara, keep growing, I can't wait for you first birthday I know it'll be here before we know it.