Taryn is ONE YEAR OLD today. Well, in about 2 hours. 3 hours if we're adjusting for the time zone she was born in. Actually, bad mom, I don't really know exactly what time she was born. Somewhere there in the worst pain known to mankind, I kind of spaced (or tried to go to a happy place) and totally lost track. 
Taryn goes to her one year appointment on Monday, so I don't have official stats on her just yet. However, last week at the doctor, she weighed 23lbs9oz. 18 months clothes are starting to get a bit snug on her, 24 months fit much better. She wears a size 4 diaper and a size 4 shoe. (Well, depending on the shoe. Don't get me started on how NOT standard baby shoe sizes are.) Taryn has ten teeth, including both molars on the left side and no molars on the right side. 
We are having Taryn's birthday on Saturday at our house. People have been asking what the theme is. Um, yellow & red? Can that be a theme? Have you seen how expensive things are when you throw Elmo's face on there? Taryn doesn't even know any characters yet, so I'm going to wait until she does to start dishing out the dough on character cups, plates, napkins, pinatas, etc. The party will be in our yard and will be a cookout. We've got a good crowd coming. Props to Grandpa Jeff and Great-grandma Mimi for coming all the way from New Jersey and St. Louis for it. 
Taryn still loves saying "ah-duh", but she has now started mixing in some other sounds. "Bop" seems to be popping up quite often. She is by no means a quiet child. When she thinks she has something important to say, you will hear it. She absolutely adores the book "Eyes Nose Fingers and Toes". We have a shelf full of her books in the living room. She will walk over there and pull every single book off the shelf until she gets to that one. Then she'll bring it over and start looking through it. It is the most loved and most worn of all her books. The "ears" page is missing a piece. The blanket on the last page is now torn out. The lollipop is practically crumpled. But, hey, it still pleases her. Taryn likes climbing into her rocking chair and rocking. She is super cool in a rocking chair. She likes to try to open drawers and is infatuated with the printer. She still loves the kitties, especially Darby who she calls "Da". She hugs Darby and pats her and lays her head on her. It's pretty sweet. Taryn knows how to blow kisses not and does it whenever she is leaving or if you say "I love you". She is a cuddler and if you are sitting on the floor, she'll walk up and hug you and sit on your lap. Taryn hasn't been eating as well as she used to. Not sure if it is the molars or just a new phase. What she likes one day can totally change for the next. It is hard to be sure what to give her. She usually likes greenbeans a lot, and of course cheese. (But seriously, who doesn't like cheese?)
Taryn is really starting to enjoy her yard and being outdoors. She still LOVES daycare and gets so excited when we arrive. She especially likes little Julian at daycare. He is a cutie, I'll give her that. Today we signed up for swim classes. When I took her down to show her the pool, she was very wide-eyed. It will be interesting to see how that first swim lesson goes! Taryn likes new people, but is slightly more nervous of them then she used to be. She is really such a happy girl and loves to smile and be silly. She's still copying everything she sees which I'm sure will be even more once she starts getting more words in her vocabulary then "mum" "dat" and "all done". 
"Dudes, I got the keys to my mom's car. Let's go for a ride!" 
"You there. You sit shotgun." 
"Fine. I'm leaving without you." 
Now... Taryn has started immitating EVERYTHING. She tries to immitate when I snap my fingers, but she makes the sound with her mouth. Today on the way home from daycare she made a fish face at me. When she is eating, she not only mimicks me saying "Mmmmm mmm", she purses her lips and sticks her chin out just like I do when I say it. I have noticed that she is always watching now. Picking up on every little sound and expression. (I guess this is when I need to really cut back on the swear words.) 
This is one of the funniest things that she has started doing. She puts her little mini-purse on her arm and walks around with it. The entire time she is walking around with it, she holds her arm up in the air to keep the purse on her arm. I'm not sure where she got this. I really don't carry a purse all that often. And when I do, I certainly don't hold my arm up the whole time.
Last weekend we went to the wedding of James & Jen. It was a lovely (and quick) ceremony and a fun reception. We got to see some friends that we haven't seen in quite awhile, good food, good drinks & good music = a good time!
This was Taryn's first wedding and she loved it. She liked all the people... She liked the little boy in the pew in front of us. She was pretty sure when everyone clapped at the end they were cheering for her. 
And, being a super considerate baby, Taryn got in her pj's at the reception and went right to sleep. She stayed asleep while we put her in the reclined highchair so mommy & daddy could stay and mingle for a couple more hours. In this pic our friend Chad was showing his son what he should be doing. 
And then there's that other cat... I don't so much care for that one. 
