It’s been a wild month for Delaney with lots of changes in our home including a running baby, new childcare arrangements and even less sleep than ever before. I can’t believe we’re still talking about sleep, but alas, we are. We’ve been admitted to Children’s Hospital’s sleep clinic and have been following a new sleep training plan. This is another post in and of itself but it’s certainly been a primary focus the last month!

But back to Delaney, she’s awesome when we’re not trying to make her sleep! Her sense of humor has yet again surprised us as she 100% understands when she’s being funny (or misbehaving) and looks for our reactions (which we’re working on NOT giving her…easier said than done). She’s going to be a tough one and in many ways, it’s terrifying but I’ve always said we’d rather have a strong willed child than one whose too easily taken down. Let’s hope she stands up to challenges of all sizes throughout her life — and not just her parents:)

Here’s what’s new:

• In addition to being chased, Delaney reacts and runs away when we call her name sternly (mostly when she’s eating something she shouldn’t)
• She eats EVERYTHING she shouldn’t. The weirdest and most stress-inducing habit she’s forming is finding hair all over the place. Between her and I, we might as well have a labrador shedding its winter coat around here…it’s disgusting.
• She hides behind things like the curtains and jumps out – laughing
• Belly laughs when tickled or attempted
• I think we’re officially claiming she has a first word and it’s “Bye!” with a big, dramatic wave
• She picks up any type of phone, real or fake, and makes a noise in the tone of “Hello?” She’s not saying any actual word but loves mimicking this
• She pulled herself up for the first time and can gracefully get back down to sitting!
• Had her first non-breastmilk liquids and it’s been quite the challenge trying to figure out what she’ll drink vs. what she’ll have a negative skin reaction to…a little overwhelming but I don’t think she has an actual allergy
• Went down the slide all by herself for the first time – loved it. She is frighteningly obsessed with putting herself in danger and we’re working on her understanding she can jump off of things that are high up. She’s very confident in her abilities but sometimes, a little too much!
• She is getting her fourth top tooth taking her tooth count for 6!
• Dances by holding on to a chair or anything and bouncing while sticking out her bum. She is hilarious and starting to get a handle on her rhythm.

We love Delaney more than anything we could have ever imagined. She’s so much fun to be around and we can’t wait to see her continue coming into her own. Cannot BELIEVE she’s almost 1!