Josie is now 13 months and is enjoying being more mobile and more vocal. She is not yet walking on her own, but as you'll see below, loves to get around anyway that she can. She loves music and has figured out exactly how to turn on our bowes system by the remote so that she can dance and sing to her favorite Norah Jones cd. Her dance involves a side-to-side shuffle and her song is the "oooo, oooo, oooo" chorus to Sunrise by Norah Jones (sounding somewhat similar to Josie's owl impersonation!). She thinks it is really funny to make a machine gun noise and to fake yawns. She also likes to tickle her stuffed animals, her parents, other children, and herself and say, "giggle, giggle, giggle, giggle"! Her first word was "Hi" at about 10 months and the words that have followed are: daddy, ducky, randaddy (Granddaddy), worrel (squirrel), owl, Heidi, baby, cheese, pooh, ba ba (for momma), up, giggle, brub ber (for Brown Bear), bubble, bir (for bird), shoes, keys, paper, cracker, bye-bye, bapa (for back-pack), bean, apple, and car. She also now refers to both owls and dogs by their animal sounds.

This morning Josie discovered that she could walk on her own, using this container as a "walker"! She raced back and forth down the hallway (with momma's help to switch directions). 

Josie maintained this big intense grin for the duration of her walk - she was lovin' it! 

Josie shuts her eyes, bracing herself for a tumble! (Don't worry, she just did a gentle bellyflop on the container and was quickly rescued by her mommy!) 

Josie snuggles with Granddaddy, happy that Grandma and Granddaddy came to visit. 

Granddaddy answers Josie's constant request of "up, up" by flying her way up in the sky! 

Josie enjoys rocking on her new little rocker (a gift from Grandma and Granddaddy). She was a little hesitant at first, but now she loves it! 

Josie enjoys time with Grandma, while eating her favorite snack, "cheeeessse" (Josie likes to really annunciate the "e" and the "s" sound!). 

Josie and Grandma play peek-a-boo with Granddaddy who is on the other side of the banister. 

Josie just yesterday learned how to eat by herself with a fork (well, with a little help - grandma piled the fork up and handed it to Josie, who managed to get the fork to the right destination!). 

She is quite pleased with herself! 

Josie now enjoys brushing her own teeth (i.e. slurping the water off the bristles and then chewing on them!).  

Josie has become fascinated by bubbles (and likes to say "bubble") - here she is elated to find bubbles in her milk. 

Josie has grown quite attached to another stuffed animal who has been named "brown bear" or in Josie's language, "brub ber." (This bear was given to Josie by her Nana and Grampy when she was just a few months old). 

Daddy and Josie enjoy each other�s company at the Boar�s Head lake. 

Daddy shows Josie how to feed the ducks.
 

Josie decides that the bread looks pretty good and that she�d rather just feed herself!
 

Daddy points at the ducks explaining that the bread is for the ducks and not for Josie.

 

Josie decides that the bread is just too good to give away!
 

Josie has grown quite attached to her stuffed animals, giving them daily hugs. These two are her favorites, affectionately called "ducky" and "poo."  

I forgot to note that Josie had her first "real" bowl of cereal on her birthday - her daddy was quite proud! 

Josie turned one on February 24! See below for some pictures from her birthday.

 

We took Josie to a local pet shop for a fun birthday excursion (it was the only place in town we thought might be fun for a one-year old!). In this photo, Josie catches her first glimpse of mice.

 

Daddy points out a fish to Josie.

 

Josie stares with wonder at the birds.

 

Momma and birthday girl Josie.