I'm so shocked that almost a year has gone by since Kayleigh was born. Yet, I can barely recall what life was like before she was with us. Oh, wait, yes I can. It was quieter. Much, much quieter.

Just as you realize how happy your life was, a child comes along and redefines happiness. That happened when Abby was born. When Kayleigh came along we thought we couldn't be happier, but she is teaching all of us - her sister included - that another child smashes all previous conceptions of happiness and will continue to raise the bar.





So, why was it much quieter before Kayleigh was born even though she still doesn't talk - aside from the occasional, stray "mama", "baba", "abba", and "uh-oh"? It's because she really has had no need to talk. Her communication is fantastic, if not exceptional! Her hand gestures and gazillion screeches, grunts, cries, and mumblings absolutely and without a doubt convey her exact meanings and intentions.

She uses very few baby signs and none consistently: all done, more, milk, uh-oh, bye-bye. Most of the time, she just points, grunts, and lunges for whatever it is she wants and takes whatever she needs.

Kayleigh is also all over the place and we have to keep a close eye on her at all times. She likes to climb up stairs and WALK down stairs. She can't walk on her own, yet, but can stand for long periods of time without assistance. If you take her hand (and he's holding her Froggy in the other) she leans her body forward and tries to run. She likes turning over cat food bowls, playing in the cats' water fountain, going after power cords, light bulbs, and outlets, so we chase after her, constantly reminder her to stay out of trouble. She responds to "No-No!" by putting forehead down on the ground and pushing out a pathetic cry for sympathy. Abby calls it her fake cry.





Kayleigh is super-cuddly and sweet when she wants to be, which is often. I love how she buries herself under my chin when she is tired or being shy. We get attacked by big Kayleigh hugs and affectionate open-mouth slobbers (aka kisses) all day long. At daycare the teachers laugh at her for charging after her classmates and friends, trying to smother them with hugs and kisses, scaring most of them, oftentimes to tears. Recently, she learned to blow kisses. But somehow, she didn't quite get that she was supposed to blow kisses, so instead, she blows tongue clicks. Sounds exactly the same until you watch her do it!

Besides being affectionate, she's also surprisingly compassionate for a baby and has consistently shown it. A few times when Abby has been in tears (like when she had her throat roughly swabbed for a strep culture), Kayleigh will put her head down on Abby's and hold it there as she gently pats her, as if to say, "Everything is fine. We're all here for you."





As we make plans for celebrating her 1 year birthday, I just wanted to put down a few words about our little Kayleigh-bug. She is a joyful addition to the family. We are awed by her cunning, plotting, quick little stubborn mind and melting over her sweet nature. She is still our fairly laid-back kid as her general disposition is... simply very happy.