Saucy Sawyer

I can hardly believe that Sawyer will be a year old in just a few days now. I guess every parent says that sort of thing, but she still feels and seems like such a little infant to me...In other ways, however, she is a writhing, curious little girl who's personality is really starting to emerge! Here are a few of her recent antics:
-She now pants heavily to have sips of my orange juice at breakfast. She glances from me to my glass until I give her a sip! Once I place my cup to her mouth she tries desperately, feet kicking wildly, to drink it up. After her sip, her nose wriggles up at the taste and then a big, jack-o-lantern grin spreads on her face.
-She also has discovered the straw and the yummy contents Mommy's straw often contains. As we shop Target or the grocery store, I often have a drink in hand and have her strapped to my hip in a carrier. She has now found ways to wrap her lips around my drink when I am not looking, diving her body in the direction of the cup, sipping furiously until she gets a bit of Diet Coke and then smiles devilishly at me once I see her! I am shocked that after a diet of only breastmilk, formula, water and watered down juice (and now I guess oj, above) she loves Diet Coke! Lee swears that perhaps she had a bit too much of it in the womb...
-She now scoots on her bottom and with her legs and is trying so hard to crawl. Yes, I said crawl. The child is almost 12 mos and there is no crawling happening. Sigh. She does like to stand and can almost pull up, and does cruise a bit from object to object un-assisted. Perhaps she won't crawl at all...I am doing my best to not worry, but am ready for therapy if we reach that point. Am I at that point? I may have to consult my panel of experts...
-We have entered into separation anxiety and she cries if left alone for a second and wails crazily as I take her school. Not my favorite way to begin the workday, but it must be done.
-Happily, she loves beach balls and will "play ball" and toss the ball back forth with you...so fun.
-She screeches in delight when she wants to participate in some big-kid thing that Sullivan or other children are doing...it is as if she says, "I am here, too! I want to play too!".
She still melts my heart!
What will the next year hold? I can't wait to see what she will be up to next...