Our One Year Old Hannah

One year ago today I took Audrey to the Rec Center and had my water break in their swimming pool (don't worry they have a lot of filters).  Then hours later I had my newborn baby laying on my chest, not crying a bit and with her dark eyes wide open, her little chubby cheek on my heart.  That is my favorite moment of Hannah's birth story.  I think I will always be able to see her laying so calmly on me in my minds eye.  I'll always remember her dark eyes, her cheek, her quiet presence, and her little spirit.  Even though now she is not always very quiet she has still always had that incredibly sweet spirit about her making the world a better place because she is in it.

It's the second time now I say with amazement that my baby girl is a year old!  Time flies by so fast.  It has been a VERY eventful year for this little Dobbins family, a lot of ups and downs.  But the downs would've been a lot harder to take if we hadn't had this little girl with us.  Her influence on our life has been profound.  The three of us love her with all our heart.  She has made our family more complete and we can't imagine life without her!

Here is some of the characteristics and personality of our one year old Hannah:

Hannah

• yells "AnnnNAH!" several times when she wants food I have
• doesn't look like a one year apparently.  still wears 3 month clothes and often gets mistaken for a 6 month old or younger.
• has a constant smile on as she cruises around the apartment all day
• is always whispering this little song under her breath as she goes along- "tatatata dada dada."  It's like her 'getting stuff done' song.
• loves getting in trouble.  If she's doing something she knows she's not supposed to do she'll look around for me with a sly smile until I "catch" her and as I start coming saying "HEY, what are you doing" she bounces up and down and flails her arms around ecstatically.  It's pretty hilarious.
• thinks its a hilarious joke when we try to get her to stand on her own.  She seriously get this "Hah yeah right" expression/smile on her face.
• wakes up most mornings to Audrey climbing in the crib with her.
• loves to give people things.  She'll look for something- anything- on the floor to pick up and hand to the nearest person.
• walks on her knees!  This is so funny to see, it's pretty hard to describe.  If she's too far away when  she is trying to hand us something, like I mentioned before, she will literally walk on her knees all the way till she can reach it to us.  She'll stop every few inches and hold up the object again to check if she's close enough.  And then if she isn't she'll just keep coming, lifting one knee at a time.  Doesn't matter how far.  You NEED that object and she will not rest until it's in your hands.  Even if it's a crumb off the floor.
• loves to play with balls, especially basketballs.  She could easily spend an hour bouncing a ball back and forth with daddy.  
• hugs and squeezes blankets and stuffed animals as tight as she can.  If there is a blanket anywhere in her reach she will pull it in and push it against her cheek with a big smile and saying "oohhhhhhhh ooohhhhhhhhh."
• may be an early talker like her sister.  She already says Hannah, ball, amen, audrey (though this one is only understood by her parents), dada, mama, and one other word that I can remember.
• loves Phineas and Ferb.  She's immediately calmed by the theme song when she's upset.  She also loves the song Lava from the short film.
• loves dancing around the room in our arms
• is still called many ridiculous names by her sister.  Some of Audrey's names for her include Hannah-choochie, Beedy, Mocha, and many many others.  I don't know where she comes up them all, but every day it seems to be something new.  And she honestly just refers to her by one of these names.  She'll say "Mom, Kiko-lika is playing with my toys."  Hannah doesn't seem to mind one bit.
• yells NAMEN!!! at the end of prayers, most often for dinner because she's so enthusiastic about eating.
• is very very very picky right now.  Even though she loves to eat there isn't much that make it to her stomach.  She usually likes pb&j, goldfish, toast, yogurt, and oranges.  And even those it depends on her mood.
• asks to touch things as when pass them.  We saw two bunnies near our place the other day while we were outside and she kept holding up a hand and making her little squeak sound, looking at me with raised eyebrows as if she was asking permission 
• expresses her love by pushing her face against yours, particularly her forehead.  Her and Audrey do this together and whenever they do I worry that they're going to hurt each other...which does happen sometimes.  
• holds my face in her hands sometimes when she is pushing her forehead against mine.  this is my favorite thing she does.  she closes her eyes and says "ooohhhhhh ooohhhhhh" with a little smile.  Ugh it just melts my heart right down to butter.  It's the sweetest thing.

so many sister moments at my knee

look at how her leg is woven through the bars of the cart...thats skill

hannah best friend and biggest cheerleader is audrey

always together these two

a lot of these moments this year

family walk

audrey loves helping hannah learn how to walk!

she's always trying to figure out how to put these blocks together. i can tell it drives her a little crazy, but she doesn't throw a fit.  she just keeps trying.

she'll be walking soon!

We love you Hannah!!  So grateful to have you forever and ever!