Happy Birthday Colette!

Words cannot describe how happy this little girl makes us. She's so smart, so sweet, so quirky, so cuddly and such a perfect addition to our family. She's our fireball and literally keeps us on our toes as you really never know what to expect! She's predictable in her unpredictability. haha We use a Shakespeare quote when describing our little "bulldog" (one of her nicknames) is, "And though she be but little, she is FIERCE". Nothing could describe her better. She's so damn cute and sweet and then can turn fiery on a dime! Her "fire" isn't overly fussy or mad, it's just a no nonsense spike of energy. It's actually pretty hilarious. I'm just scared to see her at 13! She's going to keep us as busy as she does now!

For the last month or so she LITERALLY EATS ALL DAY LONG. My mom babysat her and I told her that her job is less about taking care of the kids and more about FEEDING Colette! haha She wants to eat all the time! I don't know where she puts it! She'll be fine for a half hour or so and then she'll be fussing at my feet following me around reminding me it was time for another snack! SO MUCH FOOD! haha

- fully walking/running. has been since she was 11 months 1 week. Hard to slow her down!
- so LOUD
- Screeches when she wants something (can pierce my ear)
- wants to be in the middle of the action
- likes being passed around to different people. As long as she knows the person (no strangers), she's happy to be passed around.
- flirts and likes to smile at people who say hi in the grocery store.
- determined and rarely gives up
- loves baths
- obsessed with Liv. cries when Liv is gone or in trouble. follows her everywhere. Bored when Liv is at school.
- 2 naps (went down to one nap a day at 12 months 2 weeks). Goes down without a problem.
- 12 hours at night 8-8
- likes to play in dirt. isn't afraid to get dirty
- wrestles around with liv. Sometimes instigates a roll around session! Liv is a good sport and is really gentle with her. I walked in to the playroom the other day and found Colette standing over Liv (laying on the floor) and pulling up on her shirt and hair trying to get her up to play!
- doesn't stop eating.
- you KNOW when she doesn't like something.
- for the most part follows along with whatever the fam is doing.
- loves being outside. Could spend all day outside.
- could live on goldfish crackers.
- favorite foods: fishy crackers, pretzel sticks, ANY FRUIT, cereal bars and lasagna/pizza/pasta!
- Went to a sippy and was fully weaned from breast milk bottles (yeah for me!) on her birthday! We alternate between coconut milk and whole milk.
- does a good job of riding in the stroller. Enjoys both the carseat and the stroller. Great traveler as long as she's fed! haha
- starting to TRY to say basic words. repeats them back but won't always do it. She says num num num when she wants to eat and can say nigh nigh nigh for going to bed. She'll also say mama or dada if asked. She also said, "cake" tonight for the first time which made Liv and I laugh so hard! She was copying what we were saying and was so proud! She also tries to say "poop" when I say it when discussing a diaper change!
- she LOOOOVVVVEEEESSS animals. Literally obsessed and will jump up and down laughing and talking while watching them. I put the National Geographic WILD channel on and she goes NUTS watching all the different animals run around.
- loves stuffed animals and sleeps with her bulldog, George and a horse Wes and I got for her.
- very smiley and full of life. She's truly a joy and our sparky!
- loves being held and tolerates my constant kissing.
- Races Liv at the end of the day to get to Wes first when he gets home from work.
-Three full teeth with the fourth (top left) peeping through

STATS:
Weight: 21.9 lbs (50-75%)
Height: 30.5 inches (75-90%)
Head 19.2 (95%+)

I can't say enough about how much we love this little sparky. This first year of her life was such a blessing to all of us and we are so thankful she's ours.