My Baby is 1

What a year it has been. As in all other posts, I'm late...and I'm still in denial that my baby is a year old.  Everett, I'm not even sure where to begin to describe how amazing you are; how fun, how funny, how smart and so, so handsome.  You are a gift from God and you make me so happy each and ever day.  A little bit about you now that you're 1!!!

Stats:
24.5 lbs
30 inches

After a month of phase out (now at 13 months) you are weaned off formula and drinking whole milk great- and lots of it!  You're still taking 3 bottles a day; 8-10oz (wake up, before nap, and before bed).  You take a sippy cup fine, it's really Mom who doesn't want to get rid of the bottle.  You just now, started to hold your own bottle.  You absolutely can...you just like mom to do it better.  I don't mind.  You're eating table foods a little better, although you are still incredible picky.  I'm not sure if you've ever put a vegetable to your lips (unless I've hidden it somehow) and you're still getting used to fruit.  Your favorites: hamburger, hotdogs, sausage, cheese, yogurt, pasta, bread, crackers, pears, mandarin oranges and bananas. You love milk and water and haven't acquired a taste for juice.  I might keep it that way if I can ;) You are awesome at drinking from a cup and a straw.  If you didn't want to walk around with it, I would let you graduate.

You're sleeping regularly these days; wake time around 6:30-7:00am nap at 1:00pm till about 3:00pm and bedtime at 8pm.  You go down pretty easy as long as you have your elephant lovie and your monkey.  It's so sweet how attached you are to these comfort items. I still rock you at night, not to sleep, but it's our snuggle time and I'm going to have a HARD time giving it up when you no longer want to.  Do you notice a theme here :)

You love to be outside; riding bikes, walking, sweeping, shoveling, swinging, sliding.  It hasn't been the best weather this winter/spring, so I'm looking forward to releasing to you the outdoors soon.  You love sports and anything that requires a ball. You have crazy strength and can throw a ball about as far a I can. You have amazing eye/hand coordination and continue to WOW me with the things you can do; catch a ball, put small toys in small places, hammer small items, hold a crayon and color pretty well, put on caps.  You will definitely be the kid takes apart my electronics ;)  You've been walking now for awhile, took your first steps at 10 months and are now, at 13 months, perfecting your run! You sure can move for a new walker.

You are loving school and are passing milestones with ease.  So far no real stranger danger although you hesitate with new people and like to flirt with them safely in mom's arms.  Grammy and Gramps are living with us now and you and Gramps are pretty inseparable.  I hope you always have this sweet relationship with him; he is your namesake so you're connection makes perfect sense.  You love your big brother something fierce but next to mom, Charlie is the one who owns your heart.  You love animals especially dogs. Our next field trip will definitely be to the zoo.

With your love of animals your first words after mama and dada have been dog-dog and "woof".  You are also trying to make all kinds of animals sounds and so far have gotten; "woof", "moo", "who-who" and "co-co".

I could go on and on about you but I'll sum it up with you make all our lives better, more joyful, and definitely add a whole new level of silly-ness. We all love to you to the moon and back!

Happy Birthday my sweet boy.

Love, Mom