10 more days

I can't believe that my Ashley is going to be a year in only 10 days! Where has that year gone?! I was watching her this week and she is such a gem, I just can't get over it. She is so cute. She has four teeth coming in at the same time. So far the numbing gel has kept her happy so we haven't had any sleepless nights or anything. It's interesting to see how her appearance is changing with the added teeth. Austin made the comment that her tooth is "huge". I have to admit the one coming in on top does look pretty giant for her little mouth. We will soon see...



She is also more active than Olivia was at this age, which I never thought possible. She is everywhere. If there is something to be seen, ripped, pulled, smashed, opened, whatever...she is doing it. Our house is so bare b/c it's all baby proofed. We can't leave anything at a height under 2 feet because she will get it. It's hard when you have two older kids to maintain this babyproofed status. Today Olivia got out all of the clips, hair bands, and other tiny accessories (while I was in the shower, mind you) and decided to dump them out everywhere. She was clipping them onto things and organizing them in her unique way, but that meant Ashley was able to get into them. I can't count how many times I have taken little rings, coins, and Barbie shoes out of Ashley's mouth!

She loves to find dirty diapers and clothes headed for the washer and carry them around. It's so cute to see what she will pick up next. I love this photo of her carrying the teddy bear over her back.




Her new favorite place is the backyard. Before she was walking confidently, we didn't let her back there b/c the patio is a rough, rocky cement. Disaster for a baby who is unstable on her feet. Now that she is practically running, it's fair game. She loves to walk all over the grass, play with balls, find clothespins I have dropped, whatever. She would explore for hours if we let her. It's funny how fast she gets there too. If she knows that sliding door is open, she is gone. The other day I went to my room to put something away and she was right with me. A minute later I turned around and not only was she gone, she had walked out and all the way around the side to the gate (which is always closed, thank goodness). I couldn't believe it. Actually, her walk is so funny. She walks like one of those speedwalkers who do it for sport, you know what I am talking about? The backside wiggles from side to side really fast and her arms are usually right out at the sides. So funny.





I haven't decided what kind of celebration we are going to have yet. It's Jared's birthday on the 16th and hers is the 20th so we'll probably have a combined BBQ at the beach or a park or something. That or maybe we'll have a dinner at our house on Sunday evening. Gotta figure it out soon.