Azra's first birthday

This photo was taken one weekend two weeks before her birthday. It was this time that she started to walk a little - just a couple of steps at a time before falling down. And here she is in the park showing her fondness for nature and trees.
We had her birthday party a little early due to so many friends going away . I guess that it is the disadvantage of having one's birthday in summer. It was a beautiful day, although torrential rain was threatened (much like we have been having here for probably one third of the summer- 1 day 35degrees and the next 20 and torrential rain and thunderstorms. It seems Azra is lucky as the sun was showing its beautiful colours and was actually quite hot. There were about 10 of us and 3 children. I guess as she gets older it will only be children but at this stage it is an excuse for us adults to gather together! We had it in Fenerbahce park. A beautiful park overlooking the sea and the islands. She had her first cake - sugar free only pekmez, which I guess could be translated as molasses, in this case carob molasses, or maybe carob syrup? I am hoping to keep her from eating sugar in all but its natural forms until 2 or 3 years, until I lose control of such things. The theory as Dr Sears enacted himself on his own children is that she will get so used to not eating sugar that when she comes across it even if she overdoses on it, it will make her feel ill and not want to eat it, or just not want to eat much of it at all. Let's see if I can stick to my aims! Anyway she couldn't blow out her candle herself, I think one of the other kids did so, probably the 3 year old who knew what was happening and what needed to be done. Anyway it was a great day, especially for Azra even if she didn't understand what was happening. She was too happy to be crawling and walking in the grass and flowers, and being admired by everyone to think about why we were all gathered together. So one year has passed. I found it hard to believe and it is a cliche to say so, but it has passed so quickly. Most of it has been fantastic, some of it was really hard work. People look at her now and say she is such a happy, smiley baby. I think back to her first 2-3 months, where she had gas issues, sleeping issues (she still does and wakes up every 3 hours- although more when she is teething- now!) and organization issues and whatever else. Now however she is great. Masaallah- as the Turks say, or touch wood, as others might say. She is now walking everywhere, not at all keen to get in her stroller, although she quite likes pushing it. Maybe I should get in it and let her push it and have a well-deserved rest. That sounds rather inviting! She smiles at anyone who even looks at her. Apparently one day she was in the park and there was a guy with his head in his hands, looking rather pensive. She even when passing him gave him such a smile that he even smiled back at her! Maybe she'll be a light in everyone's life. In terms of developments, she has discovered how to get off the bed and down stairs. She was really pleased with herself this morning as the place we had breakfast in had 2 really friendly cats who allowed her to touch them, even pull their fur. And luckily it didn't end in being scratched in return. If only our cat at home could be as calm and tolerant as these cats. Let's hope that now at home she doesn't think that our cat will act the same or she could end up with some more scratches than she has already had to bear!
Now her favourite item is the rubbish bin, the rubbish bin in the kitchen, the rubbish bin in the bathroom, and wherever else she can find one. Whatever she has in her hand goes in there (and if we are not looking, if she can open it whatever is in there goes in her hands!) We have to be extremely vigilant with the rubbish that is being thrown out- not so easy to always remember- that's probably why some of her toys are missing! Iguess she sees us throwing things into the garbage, so rather than being a garbage it is just a place where things get stored perhaps for her. Children are amazing creatures! What goes on in their heads is really fascinating! She is also into the toilet, the water down the bottom looks very mysterious, and oh what fun it is to throw things in when the lid is left up! Her favourite toys at the moment are plastic containers and lids, she has a great time trying to fit one into the other! One development in her personality is the showing of anger in very definite ways. For a long time when she was angry she would hold out her arms straight in front of her and and scream, for example at the cat when he would scratch her. Now when she gets angry she yells out every word that comes into her head and they come out as a string of angry words 'blblblmamamamgagagagagagwagwagwabababa' etc! In fact it is really funny when she gets angry. Unfortunate that her outpouring of anger just makes us giggle! In terms of her eating, I am still breastfeeding, more at night and when she wakes up. She is completely sold on purees, but not so completely sold on non-purees. She loves her eggs though, she loves chewing on bread, simits, she likes cheese, she loves crackers, she loves cucumber, but most of the time she just chews on most of these and then after a while she just lets them fall out of her mouth. As for fruit, well if it is pureed it is eaten, if not, she will not let it in her mouth! Now we have the most beautiful fruit, because of the season, but because I am making a point of buying organic, and it really is beautiful. Cherries, nectarines, plums, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, apricots, watermelon. She will eat some watermelon with us, although alot of it ends up in places other than her mouth! As for the other fruits, if they are entertained at all it is only to squeeze the juice out of them then she may smear it all over her face and then the kitchen floor and then she rubs her legs in it. This is what she did with the apricot last week. If only I had had my camera at the ready! Her legs were pretty delicious though, even if she didn't appreciate the apricot!