My sweet baby nugget is one year old. How did that happen? Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was burrito wrapping her, stumbling through night nursings and wondering who she would become.

Well, she’s here now! At one, Kulia is so advanced she reminds me of Leina at 18 month. She’s running around our house, climbing on and off the sofa, using sign language, and learning new words every day. Of course, MA MA is my favorite but my newest joy is listening to her imitate animals. She can roar like a lion, trumpet like an elephant, and meow like a cat. And the kisses! Oh, the kisses! When you ask for kisses, she puckers up and air kisses all the way over to you and then plants one right on you. It’s heaven.

Kulia is that wonderful mix of part baby part toddler. It only lasts a few weeks and it is breath-taking. Every night, I sneak into her room and watch her sleep, snuggled up with her blanket, Patches.

She smells like baby and love.

And she is trouble! Trouble! I take her to Leina’s storytime at the library. While Leina sits shyly on my lap or clings to my arm, Kulia jumps up and runs amongst the big kids. She dance to her own music and converses with all the other moms in her own baby babble. She’s such a little socialite and loves smiling at anyone who catches her eye.

I have no double that Kulia will tackle every challenge with glee and determination during this next year. She will be a force to reckon with as she grows. I forsee lots of physical activity in her future and a love of books. And I am so torn. I wake up every morning wondering what new trick she’ll show me and dreading the passing of another day of her baby-hood.

But in my mind, she’ll always stay my sweet nugget baby. Kulia, oh how I love you!