Wednesday 31 August 2005
Jess Update (XV)
Hello, family & friends! Welcome to my 15th Update. Today I am exactly 1 year + 6 days old. Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me…
I went to the Clinic a couple of weeks ago and had my measurements taken:
Weight (dressed): 10.2kgs. I was 3.95kgs (or 8lb 13oz) at birth.
Length: 75.5cms. I was only 51cms at birth.
Head circumference: 45.2cms. My head was 35cms at birth
Weight (dressed): 10.2kgs. I was 3.95kgs (or 8lb 13oz) at birth.
Length: 75.5cms. I was only 51cms at birth.
Head circumference: 45.2cms. My head was 35cms at birth
Pretty impressive growth statistics for just one year, eh?
Since my last Update, I’ve been doing all sorts of clever things. Just the day after my last Update (ie, 26 July 2005), Granddad clapped his hands and I copied him! Now I just can’t get enough and clap often – it’s very cute.
I’m also an expert at waving. In fact, whenever I’m near a window I wave because that’s just what you do at windows – wave!
Today at my 12 month Clinic visit I stood up. On my own! I’ve been pulling myself up to a standing position for a while now, but today I just pushed up with my legs and got myself to a standing position. I was ever so impressed with myself, and continued to stand up half a dozen times. Clever me!! I haven’t taken any steps to walk on my own, but my Mummy keeps telling me that there’s absolutely no need to rush that walking business.
I had a fairly quiet first birthday. On the day of my birthday my family was frantically packing because it was due to be the last day in our house before we made our way first to Sydney, then to Brisbane, then to Indonesia where Daddy was to begin a new job. Unfortunately, our plans were thrown into chaos late in the afternoon of my birthday and as a result we didn’t move to Indonesia, although it is still on the cards. So although we couldn’t make the last part of our planned journey, we decided to continue with the first part of our schedule, which was to spend the day after my birthday at Nanna & Granddad’s house in Sydney, having a birthday lunch with Nanna, Granddad and GrandAnnette. I had a lovely day-after-my-birthday being doted on by my family, and we finished off the day with a trip to the park, followed by a chocolate birthday cake. YUM! Don’t tell my Mum, but I got to taste the cake and it was GREAT! Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me…
I’m quite the little chatterbox these days. I think I’ve already told you that I’m pretty good with "NO!" (complete with me shaking my head and waving my arms or pointing my finger to stress the point), but I now say a few other words. I say "Daddy" and "Daddy-o", I say "bubble" and sometimes I say, "bye-bye". But the word I say most often is "Alex", which is not surprising as my brother is my all-time favourite person. If I hear Alex in another room, I call out his name and crawl at top speed to try to find him. A couple of times when Alex has been sent to his room, I’ve been caught clambering up the stairs calling out his name. I race all the way to the top and bang on his door calling "A-eeeks! A-eeeks!".
Now that I’ve started telling you all about my newly acquired talents, let me continue… If you ask me, "Where is Daddy?" or "Where is Alex?" I point to the right person. When Mummy and Alex sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" or "Incy Wincy Spider" I make a great effort at doing the hand actions and am particularly good at doing the twinkling stars. I love to dance, jump and bounce. At every opportunity, I’ll bounce on the bed or couch, and like to escape up the stairs and into Alex’s room because I can climb onto his bed (mattess on the floor) and bounce away to my heart’s content. I bounce so much that I make myself giggle! It’s very cute to see.
When Grandma was here a few weeks ago, she taught me how to go up and down the steps. At first I was pretty good at going up the steps, but not so sure about how to go about getting down again, but now I’m pretty zippy at both.
I’m still a great eater and sleeper. I have a bottle of formula when I first wake up, while I’m having cuddles in bed with Mummy, Daddy and Alex, then I happily eat all my breakfast. I usually have a good morning sleep for an hour or two, then expect a tasty morsel or two upon waking – just to get me though the morning, you understand. I have no problems getting through a midday meal and cup of milk, then like to have an afternoon siesta for an hour or two. I eat what can only be described as a hearty dinner, cleaning up my own bowl as well as eating whatever tidbits Alex feeds me from his plate. After my evening bubblebath and a small bottle of formula, I sleep for about 13 hours, straight through the night. What a star I am! What a clever, one year old star! Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me…
Well, fine family & friends, that’s it for another Update. I trust you’re all keeping happy and well. I’d love to hear your news when you get a chance.
Lots of love and big, sunny smiles from
Baby Jess
xxx