Happy Birthday My Big #1 Year Old

Happy Birthday Baby! You are 1 year old.  I'm so over whelmed with joy, excitement & pride over this grand milestone.

However...

I stare at my screen now and it feels so surreal to be writing this post, almost as if I'm writing in advance; for a day that is far off in the distance.  It wouldn't be unlike me to do this.  I wrote my first blog post, the post announcing our excitement at finding out we were expecting you, 10 weeks before I actually posted it.  I was so excited for your arrival that I couldn't wait another minute to shout it from the top of the "internet" mountain.  However, I was afraid, so I waited...as the Dr. suggested...those 10 long weeks.

But here we are...it's really here! Your 1st birthday.  A year ago, August 26th, my life changed forever and I would never want to go back.

We had the most wonderful celebration in your honor. 50 of our closet friends along with Grammy & Gramps showed up at the house on your big day.  It was an elephant theme (for no other reason, except I found some really adorable stuff on Etsy, and I know my days are numbered to where I get to make this decision!) Daddy made sure it was tons of fun for everyone, ordered great BBQ, bought squirt guns, crayons and markers for coloring, "Dumbo" to watch on the outside TV, a water table and a bean bag toss!  Everyone had a blast, including you!

You did not even hesitate with the cake.  We sang "Happy Birthday" and you just stared at us with a very surprised look like you were thinking, "What are you crazy adults doing?" As soon as I presented you with your cake, it was a whole 2 minutes and the entire thing was demolished!  All of our friends were laughing & commenting on how you really went at that cupcake with "gusto"! However, this did not surprise me one bit, it's the way you generally go about life, little man.  You came into this world with gusto and it hasn't stopped for a minute since.

You are such a joy, so much fun to be around. You are a funny, cool, happy, crazy, dude with such a bright future ahead of you.  I'm so proud to be your momma.

Happy Birthday my love!

xoxo Momma, Da & R-Ee

Walking

He's walking! Took his first real steps last week and is walking more and more each day.

Off I go....

 

Showing off the new teeth

 Pretending to be Charlie

What? This is bad?

Can climb up and down by himself!

Busy Bee 11 1/2 months!

11 Months

 11 months...WHAT? How can that be? Wasn't it just yesterday that I took month 6 photos? I really don't know what we have been busy doing, but in just a blink, we are weeks away from the one year anniversary of the best day of my life; they day you came into it. But before I get all nastalogic on next months big event, month 11 has had some big moments all it's own.

YOU TOOK YOUR FIRST STEPS! I set you down in the living room and you stood for just a moment, took one look at me, and then... like you had done it a million times before...you took 3 steps right towards me! I cheered, threw you up in the air and called daddy in quick so he could witness it too. You've done it a few times since and each time you get a little more sure of yourself.

Other things you are doing; crawling and climbing on everything. You can go up and down a full flight of stairs. I taught you to go down on your belly, bottom first.  With just a few guided practices you went the whole way down on your own.  You are drinking water and juice now from a sippy cup, you have mastered the straw and are beginning to understand how to use a spoon. You can open and close all doors & drawers in our house and can flip on and off all light switches. You have successfully unrolled every roll of toilet paper and when allowed, have pulled every single item out of my kitchen cabinets.  You are all boy...that is for sure...into everything. You still love wheels, dirt, and splashing in Charlie's water bowl (oh geez).  Charlie is still your favorite thing in the world, but he definitely doesn't feel the same.  For a brief moment, before you began to crawl, he though about liking you.  However, now that you are mobile and use him as a way in which to stand up, he has changed his mind.  You want so badly for him to love you, but this relationship is completely one sided.  Maybe some day? We also switched you to a big boy car seat and you are liking that much better.  We even took a road trip to downtown Dallas (just 30 mins away) and you were great the whole time.  Maybe someday we'll be able to leave the state ;)

You are sleeping great with a little later bedtime these days. You sleep from 7:30-6:15. You are taking 4 bottles and eating 3 meals a day.  Your favorite foods are waffles, yogurt, grapes, strawberries, ham & cheerios.  You are wearing mostly 12 months clothes and are still in a size 3 diaper. You are really chunkin' up these days. I'm guessing you are weighing in around 20 lbs.

 You are the funniest little man who loves to make mama and Dada laugh. You play peek-a-boo and love to read your books to us.  Wrestling Dada and chasing Charlie still get the biggest laughs.  Along with that sweet laugh also comes a wicked temper. The temper tantrums are frequent now and I know the challenges of discipline are upon us. Despite being very vocal about your displeasure, you are a really great listener. When I tell you NO, no touching, you pull back your hand, look at me with your doe eyes...try once more...and then shake your head no and let go.  I try not to laugh- it's tough-you are so darn cute :)

There is so much you are doing that I could go on and on for days. What is happening that I love the most is seeing your little personality emerge and witnessing you becoming "YOU". I am so proud to have you as a son. I couldn't have asked for a bigger blessing. You are my everything. Happy 11 month birthday!

Tooth! At Last

Tooth #1 finally emerged!!! The top left made it's appearance in early July. Tooth #2, bottom right, broke through early this week and #3, top right, is on it's way! Looks like 4 teeth in only a few weeks.

Ta-Da!

Threatening Daddy with his new tooth!

 Looks whose a big boy now :)

Happy 4th of July

4th of July used to be a favorite of mine, however, with a dog who hates fireworks more than anything in the world and proceeds to attack every "pop-pop" sound that each 'cracker' makes with a furosious bark...therefore waking the WHOLE HOUSE, it's lost of bit of it's appeal.  I know I'll love 4th of July again, when we can take James out past his bed time with a blanket, some sparklers and snuggle up under those colorful booms.  Despite my love/hate relationship with the 4th of July, I can't deny my crazy obsession with this little firecracker ;)

A fun-filled 4th full of- BBQ's, Pool Parties

 Dinner date with Finley

Watermelon eating contest with Grammy

 & walks with Charlie

Such a great holiday week...now if we could just get Charlie to relax ;)

10 Months

James,

9 months was a great month and so far my favorite age for you. I can only imagine that 10 months will be even better.  You're so much fun right now and doing so many new things! Getting closer every day to walking.  You are cruising furniture and pushing around your toys, walking around holding our hands and standing up on everything.  The past few weeks you have abandoned your army crawl and are up on your hands and knees, pretty much...full time. You have learned to climb the stairs so the baby gates went up last week.  The house is on lock down ;)  The baby gates are currently your favorite toy in the house.  You're a big fan of anything that you can open and close, so of course, these gates rate #1 in your book.  You are "talking" up a storm now, with your favorite word being Da-Da.  You say Ma-Ma but not as frequently.  You talk all the time and have quite the conversations with us ;) We are also working on some sign language.  I can tell you are starting to understand "more" and "all done" but haven't quite done them yourself yet.  You have made up your own sign for "all done" when eating, which I think is rather genius (bias of course).   When in your high chair and you're all finished, you lean over and push the button that releases your food tray! Smarty pants!

You are still a great eater and are trying out a lot of new foods.  This month you've tried watermelon, chicken, kiwi, fresh peaches, lima beans & ham all of which you love. You are still taking 4 bottles of day of around 18 oz./day.  This month we also switched you to Similac Sensitive baby formula and away from your prescription Elecare. You're doing wonderful on it, so I think we can safety say that your soy allergy is gone.

Teething has started and your top 2 teeth have started their decent. You've a rough couple of days, but for the most part you are handling them like a champ. They should be here any day! In preparation...you are teething on everything and everyone (including Charlie!).

10 months! Summer is here and your 1st birthday is right around the corner...Wow.
Love you little man. xoxo