One Year Old

My little buddy is already one year old!  Where has the last year gone?  It seems like yesterday we were anxiously awaiting your arrival, watching the 2012 Olympics and debating about how fast Josh could run 100 meters.  I was not only anxious about being a mom a second time but having a boy.  What would it be like having a BOY?  You came into this world right when you were ready and quickly.  I never could have imagined how much I could love another child as much as you and the moment I was able to introduce you to your sister was one of the greatest in my life.  You are one amazing little man who is full of life, energy and love!  Now I understand why people say having a boy is different that a girl.  And you are ALL BOY!  You keep us on our toes and I have a feeling you always will.  You are an explorer who loves to get into trouble but are a snuggler too.  You are a mama’s boy and I would want it no other way.   I love listening to your laugh, especially when you are laughing at your sister which is pretty much all the time.  You found your voice early on and continue to yell, giggle, mutter and make all kinds of animal sounds.  You idolize your sister already and I just hope she takes that role seriously because I have a feeling you always will.  You are very smart and determined and watching you learn and figure things out is fascinating.  I try and enjoy every moment we have together because I know it will go by so quickly.  Believe it or not you have taught me things already.  You have taught me to be more flexible, to stop and enjoy the moments and that I can function on little to no sleep.  You are one amazing, handsome little boy and I love you so very much!  A few things you are doing right now:

You can take about 12 steps at a time.  You are strong and very steady so can probably walk further but you are cautious.

You can make all kinds of animal noises – monkey, cow, sheep, lion and chicken.  Bawking like a chicken is definitely your specialty.  It really is hard to keep a straight face when at dinner I tell you to eat your chicken and you put your elbows out and bawk away.

You can say mama, dada, Emmy, buba, pop (when popping bubbles) bath, book, ball and MORE!  Of course all of those words are sounds only we can really understand.  More is new, you literally scream it at dinner.

Your favorite foods include: pizza, any kind of fruit, smoked Gouda cheese, salmon, graham crackers, waffles, French toast, carrots, red pepper and wheat thin baked crackers.

You love the bath.  You know when we go upstairs after dinner that is where you are going.  You drink the water from the faucet, splash water at your sister, stick yo gabba gabba toys to the wall and stir the water with your spatula. All while stranding up - you refuse to sit down.

You feel at home with “big kids”.  When we go pick yup Emmy from school you get so excited and just want to crawl around with her and her friends.  It is hard to get you both to leave!

At the end of the day you want to be outside.  You crawl all around the driveway and refuse to sit on the lawn.  You are on the move.  You don’t want to be held or told where to go.  (Something we need to work on)

You love dogs.  You can spot one blocks away and get so fixated you make your awesome excited face until they walk out of sight. 

You watch everything your sister does which explains how you know how to brush your hair and put a hair band on.

I’d say your favorite toy is the toy kitchen.  You stand at it and put lids on the pots.  You can throw a ball across the room and love reading your books.  I’ve caught you looking through the pages making your monkey and chicken noises.  So cute to watch you read to yourself already!  You love throwing all the Tupperware and plastic dishes out of “your drawer”, think the fridge is full of some sort of magic and escape into Daddy’s office any minute the door is open.  Given that the room is full of wine and alcohol I think we better get used to chasing you out of that room because we will likely be doing it for the next 20 years!

You like to help me close the microwave door and try and grab my coffee cup and the pot every morning.  You are always getting yourself into trouble by banging on the fireplace screen, eating Emmy’s crayons, pushing all the oven buttons, pulling everyone’s clothes out of the drawers and pulling our alarm clock out  of the wall, unraveling the toilet paper, on occasion putting your hands IN the toilet (so gross!) pulling all the sunscreen out of the cupboard.  And this all happens before 8am….

After a long day you love to snuggle and this is my favorite time.  You yell when you want me in the middle of the night and I still go running because I know you won’t stop until you get a hug.  You love to be held in the night and sleep on our chests and even though we are exhausted these are the moments I cherish because I know one day you are not going to want to have anything to do with me.

Happiest birthday to you my sweet little buddy.