Sarah Koa

Sarah is almost a year old.

That's right, folks. A year old.

I can hardly believe it, either! Surely it hasn't been a whole year since I first held that dark-headed newborn, screaming her head off in volumes that didn't seem humanly possible....

She has really been busy with the whole growing thing these past few months - almost as if she knows she's going to need to make a stunning appearance at her first birthday party in a few short weeks. She's become a master crawler, she's accumulated seven teeth, and her hair is long enough to put in a (teeny tiny) hair band. This week she figured out how to pull herself up to standing, and she's starting to practice tiny awkward steps, with the help of any adult who'll hold her hands.

She doesn't have any clear words yet, but her wave is perfect (and she knows just when to employ it). She can also nod and shake her head with full assurance. In fact, she often answers our yes-or-no questions with a firm nod or shake; I suspect she's taking a fifty-fifty gamble that her gesture matches her intended meaning - and the odds are rarely in her favor. ("Are you ready to go to the store?" Nods vigorously. Moments later, screams bloody murder while being forced into the carseat...)

(Luke and Sarah stealing gum
from Mommy's purse. And eating handfuls,
wrappers and all.)

Sarah has an extremely strong personality, and she can just about hold her own against her rough brother. He is working hard on the concept of "sharing," and it frustrates him to no end that Sarah completely disregards that aspect of polite society. It doesn't bother her one bit.

She has been more serious, overall, than her brother, but she isn't without her happy moments, and now that she can get around and play with toys and eat just about anything, she's pretty contented most of the time. She doesn't miss a beat, though; she watches everything around her keenly - and is always eager to participate in what everyone else is doing.

She loves music and songs, singing or dancing along as appropriate. (At church, she often falls into the "Hand Raiser" category...) She claps her hands joyfully the minute someone begins, "Pat-a-cake," and sometimes at night, she hums to herself while I rock her to sleep.

She eats with a passion and will eat just about anything - in the messiest possible manner. Peas and bananas and crackers are her current favorite foods. She continues to sleep well, most of the time, and I appreciate the fact that it usually doesn't take me long to put her down for naps - since I usually have a 2-year-old in the next room, yelling for my attention.

Sarah still loves to nurse, and she wakes me up early in the mornings for her first feeding. When she is finished, her dad and I sometimes get some precious snuggle time with her. She likes to flop down between us in bed, with arms spread out wide across each of our chests. Then she quickly scrabbles up to crawl to the foot of the bed, where she gives me a heart attack by peering out over the edge until I pull her back. At that point, she'll often giggle and grin, and then crawl back to nuzzle my cheek. She's a great snuggler.

She plays with cars, balls, rattles, and anything that someone else is currently playing with or holding. She loves to ride in the stroller or the front carrier and is fascinated by the animals at the zoo, quietly observing them from the safety of Mommy's arms. In the car on short trips, she entertains herself by watching the scenery fly past through the window (or craning her neck to see what Luke is up to) - but Mommy knows well enough to keep a stash of Mum-mum snacks in the car to satisfy this girl's appetite.

We have not offered Sarah most of the large toys (Exersaucer, swing, bouncy seat) that used to keep her brother well occupied - partly because of our efforts to clear our house of clutter, and partly because of what her brother does any time we put her in the Jump'n'Go.




People say that she looks like me, or her Gram, or her Memaw. She also looks a little like her Paps (in the eyes, according to DD) - but the truth is that she's her own new person, completely unique. I expect great things of this kiddo. She's pretty amazing already, and her dad and I thank God for her every day.

A Few of Sarah's Favorite Things: A Photo Montage

her brother!

food!

swings!

naps!

visits with grandparents!

sitting in Mommy's lap!

photo shoots!
(oops, maybe not)

(that's better)