Alex went to both swims today and had a couple of good naps during the day. With all these naps there hasn't been many photo's taken. When Mum gets home from work she has really been encouraging Alex to walk and just after this photo was taken she went for a good stroll and then followed that up with a good fall so we didn't get a photo of her in walking action. Maybe next time.

Looks like Mum took Alex down to the basement for some afternoon fun. The rocking chair is still off limits for Alex until she stops falling so much but she is allowed to play with it under full supervision.



Alex likes the basement because there is plenty of carpet to crawl around on and alwys some fun things to find. Alex likes to place everything she finds on the couch and then throw it off!

Alex is back into a good routine again. A couple of 1-2hr sleeps during the day mixed in with some playing and learning with Dad. Mum gets dinner ready and Alex enjoy's you tube and making a good mess eating.

Mum mentioned the word "BATH" and Alex had her shirt off in no time and was excited to go up for a bath and then off to bed.

There was plenty of crawling and learning to walk going on this morning. Alex has been taking a few good steps and also balancing in one place with out holding. But right now crawling is still the best way to get around.

Alex got to go to the pool today for a swim. We didn't get any photo's though. Alex spent about an hour in the water and then came home hungry and ate some yogurt. She had a nap soon after and then a couple of hours later ate some pasta and then went back to bed for the night.

Alex started the day off today with a little dancing to music and she broke out some new moves that kept Mum and Dad entertained.



Then it was watch video's on the computer whilst Alex ate. They must be pretty good because Alex always looks closely at what's going on.



Mum played with Alex whilst Dad was at the pool. Plenty of walking practice and moving on the floor kept them both busy.

Alex stayed home from both swims today and slept instead. Besides sleeping it was in the high chair to eat.

The only photo's from today were of Alex sitting in the chair wartching video's on the computer.

You can always count on full concentration from Alex when there is something interesting happening!

Last night was tough for Alex, she just wouldn't fall asleep. It was close to midnight when she finnally slept even though she was tired at about 8.00pm. She slept solid through the night and had to go to her 12month Dr's appoinment first thing in the morning. There were no picture's from the trip but she only got one vaccination shot and it was like a little pinch and everything was over. Dad made sure she took it easy for the day and let her watch Bebe Lilly on the computer whilst eating.



Alex was having good fun and just kept watching and eating.



When Alex had almost finished eating Dad handed her a couple of MnM's for desert. Alex really enjoyed them and got a little over her face. Wasn't long after and Alex fell asleep.

After Alex woke up Dad got the stroller out and took Alex for a jog to the bank and added a little extra jog to increase the fun. Alex like's the bank trips because the tellers make all kinds of sounds and she is able to see the screen from the stroller.

Later in the Aftrenoon Alex had a package from Australia.

She quickly got it open and then the card and found a big Kangaroo and a little white hand puppet in the box. It was from Auntie Virginia, Dad's sister.

Alex went to both swims today and was a little bit tired all day afterwards. She hasn't gotten back into a sleep routine just yet. This photo was from the 11.00am swim when Mum had to do something and Alex didn't like being put in the pen.

Alex received a nice Birthday gift from Christine today at swim. Some books, a jumper, shoes and plenty of toys. Alex played with them all afternoon.

Alex spent the early morning with her Meme before she was leaving to return to PA. There were a couple of times when Alex took a few steps and Meme yelled for everyone to take a look.



Then Alex didn't mind being held by Poppie just before he packed up the car ready for the long drive to PA.

It was Alex's birthday today and she had a quiet day with a couple of trips to the pool and then after missing her afternoon nap she fell asleep early in the evening. Here is another photo from yesterday when she got to play with her cake.

Alex hasn't quite mastered the trampoline yet so Poppie gave some assistance to keep Alex from taking a tumble. There has been quite a few tumbles in the last few days!

Tomorrow is offically Alex's One Year Birthday but Mum and Dad had a small celebration for her today with her Grand Parents and Great Grand Parents visiting from PA. Also Our friends Dino, Kara and Mia came over to wish Alex a happy birthday. Here's a photo of the cake.

When the Pizzelli's arrived Alex said a quick hello to her friend Mia.



Nan bought Alex a rocking chair for her Birthday present and Alex tried it out.

Later Alex sat with her Great Grand Father who is a fifth Generation of the Shive family making Alex the 8th Generation.

Another present Alex received was a baseball bat.

Alex also received a personl cell phone that she strapped onto her pants. She walked around for a while with it, made a few calls and then played with Mia's capsule chair.

Alex didn't sleep much today with all the excitment so she spent a while later in the night playing on he Trampoline gift from the Pizzelli's.

Alex had an early start to the day today as she went into Boston with Mum and dad for the triathlon Expo. It was such a nice day out and she was enjoying being pushed around by Meme whilst Mum and Dad were setting some things up.

It didn't take long for Alex to get tired so Mum took her home in the car. The day went really fast after that and we didn't get any more photo's.

Alex went to both swims today and then wouldn't fall asleep for her afternoon nap even though she was tired. It was 70 degrees outside today so Dad took her in the jog stroller for a jog and after 10mins she fell asleep. 1hr45min later she woke up and the jog had turned into a walk and seeing Alex was awake we came home. There wasn't any pictures but this was one from Yesterday when Alex was jumping in the bouncer.

Earlier in the day at swim Mum put Alex in the play pen whilst she did some coaching.

Dad snuck a photo of Mum and Alex sleeping last night. Usually Alex sleeps in the middle but the last few nights Alex has wanted to stay awake so it's been a challenge to find what does the trick for her to fall asleep. Sleeping on Mums shoulder seemed to work.

Alex went only to the morning swim today and followed that up with a 3+hr nap so she missed the 11.00am swim. Later in the afternoon Alex received a parcel in the mail. Her first, 1st birthday present. It was from Carolyn who is away in New Mexico running a desert Marathon.

Inside the package was a nice Stanford Tee Shirt and then a nice Jumper with Stanford Swimming on. Alex liked them so much she tried to put them on herself.

She played with them for quite a while. They are a little too big to wear now or else Alex would have worn them on Monday, Her 1st Birthday. Thanks Carolyn!

There was no blog last night because of a few problems with water coming in through several places onto the floor and then into the basement. Mum and Dad were kept busy in clean up mode.

One of the photo's from last night was whan Alex was enjoying her rice and beans for dinner.

It was such a nice day outside today Mum decided a walk to the bank with Alex in the stroller would be a nice change. It was still a little chilly with the wind but Alex was dressed pretty well and even kept her hat on the entire time instead of pulling it off.

Alex doesn't like being strapped in these days and would prefer to be let loose. She waited paitently in her stroller whilst Mum put some checks in the bank.

After Mum and Alex got home it was time to get the socks off and have some fun on the couch.

Just before Dinner Alex tried chewing on a carrot. Mum thought she would just suck on it but soon enough Alex took a good bite out of it.

Alex was playing with her rings toy and decided to try putting one on her foot.

It seemed to fit ok so Alex tried putting one on Mums foot.

The morning started off like the last few with Alex dancing to her musical toy. Now she grabs things as she dances.

Alex has been using her music toy as a walker to push and move around the place. We know where Alex is walking because we can here the music!



Alex also spent a short time in her bouncer this evening. It has been a while since she used to stay in it for over half an hour.

Alex and Mum did some ski jumping on the wii before going to bed. The wii says Alex has to be three years old before she can do it alone but Mum thinks it will be way before then.