One Year Update (and a birthday party!)

Until you have children, you really don't understand just how fast time flies... you think you do, but you don't.  This past year seemed to fly much faster than AR's first year, and I can only imagine they get faster with each child.  Really makes me stop and try to take in all these precious moments!  Well, here's to hoping I can think of all this child is up to at his one year mark!

Yea, so this  is as close to being in the pillow and stretched out as we could get!

Stats at 12 Months and 3 Days:

Weight:  25lbs 1oz (79%)

Height:  31.5in (92%)

Head:  48.9cm (101%)

What W's up to at 1 year:
-A LOT!
-just found a 5th tooth, not sure if it broke the skin by his birthday or not but we'll claim it... has a few more trying to come through as I type
-FINALLY (knock on wood) starting to sleep better... we still have our off nights but he can manage to make it until 6:30/7am now
-eats at 7am (breakfast), 11am (lunch), 3pm (snack) 5/6pm (supper), and 7pm (milk and yogurt)... we'll be taking donations for our monthly food budget which I fear is about to double!
-completely off the bottle but still has lots of dribble with the sippy cup
-walking... it's so strange seeing him come around the corner walking, but it's his preferred method of transportation now!
-says mostly "dod" for dog, or "dad" for dad... will say "ello" and hold up any random object as if it was a phone to his ear... still no "mama" but have heard hints of the "m" sound
-loves most all food (obvious, I know)... especially strawberries, crackers, cooked carrots, and most any other fruit too
-takes two naps a day
-has pack'n'play time twice a day if we are here... up to 40 min in the morning and about 25-30 in the late afternoon (I could write a whole blog post on why having this time is so important for both me and him!)
-he is 25lbs of pure sweetness and still such a happy boy who has a smile for everybody!
-has made diaper changes an Olympic sport

-still as active as ever and very determined to do whatever is on his little mind
-gets into everything... I've already had to buy extra safety devices for things AR didn't really get into (he also found the bathroom door when it wasn't completely shut and was able to start pulling toilet paper from the potty... used tp AND he's called 911 from my phone and I've yet to figure out how!!)
-absolutely loves being outside and doesn't mind getting dirty
-very, VERY vocal when he's mad or upset about something, like when you remove him from an activity such as climbing stairs
-likes to give high fives, hand you items or put them in something like a bucket, and laugh!
-still in size 3 diapers during the day but in size 4 night diapers at night (which come in handy when he actually sleeps 10+ hours!)
-wearing 12m and some 18m clothing
-is 100% fearless... which is not good for this mama's heart!

Our photo shoot

This is what happens in a year...

The (first) party set up... if you saw the previous post some if it might look familiar... just changed/added a few things! 

 The cakes:

W's bf, E, was able to make the birthday celebration! 

Where'd my babies go?!

 

Wasn't sure how to go about it at first, but it didn't take too long!

 

You should know that three days and two baths later, he still had icing in his ear and I didn't even notice until AFTER his 1 year check up... I'm sure the doctor sees that a lot, right?!

Opening presents!

 Lording willing, our family is not "complete" and we believe that He doesn't think it is either.  This being said, it's still bittersweet to watch your babies grow and I try so hard to remember that.  I'll be the first to admit that this stage we are entering is not my favorite age... the 12-20ish months is just very needy and requires a lot of extra attention and running around after them (everybody likes different ages better than another!).  Plus, while it's exciting and fun watching them learn to talk, it can be frustrating as well when they want you to understand and you can't.  With that being said, I'm still treasuring every moment and know that I will miss this one day.  There will be a day where I wish I could give up some sleep to have my babies be babies just for a day again.  I leave you with the lyrics that William and I so often sing, especially during those not-so-great moments of parenting!

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These Are Some Good Times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Thank you Lord for these two gifts you've blessed us with!

A French Shower and Other Recent Pics

This past weekend, my sister and I threw a baby shower for our good friend... she's actually Katie's bff since 2nd grade!  Her husband is from France and she teaches French so we just went with the French theme!  I learned a thing or two along the way considering I do not know much about French culture or the language!

The shower was a lot of fun and we enjoyed trying some new foods!  Big thanks to our mama for all her help too!

Now for a few more pics:

The other day I was doing something in the kitchen and kept hearing AR say "peek-a-boo" but didn't pay it much attention.  I turned around to find W hiding behind the curtain!  It was so cute to see them play together on their own!

While visiting Lovey and Grand Daddy, we were able to have some fun in the pool!

A good mama is one who captures pictures like this rather than stopping it... right?!  Too bad she doesn't know that in just a few years she's not going to the be the bigger sibling, just older, and he'll be able to defend himself!

And just because you need a close up!

He was loving rocking in our old chairs!

Dancing!

Sitting with Grand Daddy while he naps!

Grand Daddy had a golf cart to help get our shower guests to the house and AR was loving it. 

Somebody didn't want her picture taken!

Eating spaghetti... bottom left is why this child could (note the "could) use a bath after each feeding! 

Well, I know you are all wondering where W's 12 month update is, right?!  It's coming... I have totally forgotten to take his 12m growth pic so hopefully tomorrow! 

Litchfield 2014

For the third year in a row we have been blessed with a trip to Litchfield thanks to one of the hubs subcontractors through work!  Each year has been so much fun and so different... the first year was just us and one 11 month old little girl, the second year was our little family (W was about 6+ wks away from due date) and the hub's parents, and this year we were able to invite my parents and Aunt Katie and Uncle Clint!  We had a blast and not to mention SO much help and the kids loved it!

AR just loves this bunk bed and asking everybody to get in it with her!

This girl adores her uncle!

 When you are on vacation, all rules go out the window... but seriously, the caps were on!

 

Luckily, we got to see my close friend from college and her sweet boy, but we greatly missed her husband!  Wished so much we lived closer but so thankful we get to see them a couple times a year!

 

W enjoying the big tub!

We're just going to hope he lost some bet!

 

The first evening we just ate pizza at the condo, but the second night we went to the Litchfield Fish House and then out to get some ice cream.  Can I just say that I wish I was the person who invented "Super Hero" ice cream... dyed vanilla and all the kids love it?!?!

 Day #2 on the beach:

"Let's go fly a kite"... didn't help that we watched "Saving Mr. Banks" the night before so that song was in my head!

Daddy found his first tooth... actually his first seven or so!

The Trammells have some mad shark tooth hunting skills and I think it's rubbing off on me!

 

The last night we ate at Drunken Jack's... or just Jack's as I referred to it to AR... it was really good and we loved the salad bar that came with your meal!

W's all like, "Don't be acting all sweet and inocent!"

"He's not real, he's just 'tetend'"

 Second try at a photo shoot... leave it up to me to have a dying battery and therefore no pics of the entire family!

A big thanks to Lovey, Grand Daddy, Aunt Katie, and Uncle Clint for the babysitting, swimming, and entertaining they provided for our kids.  And the food!!! 

Well, I think that's it... took me forever to edit all that but it's worth it when I get our family yearbook each year!  Why they don't have a "snot remover" button on the editing site is beyond me... need to have some mama's give their inputs!  I fear that I have to be getting close to running out of memory on this blog... don't know what we'll do then, but I will let you know!