Baby Girl is growing up too fast

Here is her 11 month picture.. even though it was two weeks ago... wow I am so bad at this!


Especially since yesterday we got her 1yr pictures taken! Here's a favorite one!

AAAHH I can't believe we are done with Miss Elephant pictures!! (Although I may take one more on her actual birthday just for kicks)

She is getting smarter and smarter, and changing every day. Just this week she began eating - and enjoying - her Stage 3 jar foods (the ones with the chunks.. finally tolerating something from a jar that's not totally pureed!) although I don't want that to last too long, because I want her to be solely on table food soon. Also drinking from a sippy cup- we've been working on that for a while too, but she usually just chews on the spout. I even put away all the bottles (we never even had to buy the 8oz bottles.. just a few of those little ones). And waving! As expected from Nora, she has the daintiest, girliest little wave. Sometimes she only uses her pointer finger and thumb.. like she's pinching you hello/goodbye. :)

She also started TOTALLY sleeping through the night recently.. no wake-ups at all, not even to cry herself back to sleep. This week I have had a few FULL night's sleep.. first time in nearly a year. Far too long, but I knew it would happen eventually. It took my body a couple nights to adjust to it - I would wake up at her normal times and she would be fast asleep.

And in two weeks, I can say that I nursed Nora exclusively for a whole year. It has been so much work, but more than worth it. I love it, and it saved me a LOT of money on formula! Lots of moms say "Oh after a year, my food bill goes way down because I'm not buying formula anymore".. but in my case, it will go UP because of all the milk we'll be buying! It will be nice, though, to not have to worry about where to go to feed her if we're out and about, or have to walk out of the room at a party and miss some of the fun. It will be sad to end this chapter of Nora's life, but I'm also looking forward to moving on and watching her continue to grow!