1 Year Old!

Nolan, you turned ONE!  That's such a tiny yet big number!  We love and and we are just so proud of you, little son.

*****

Here's a snapshot of you at 12mo:

- You weighed 19lbs 14oz at your 1 year check up, and you were a trooper with all of the shots that you received.  After just a minute of being mad, they didn't even seem to slow you down!

- You're still rocking those size 3 diapers and in 12 mo clothes.

What've you been up to lately?

- Oh, just having dinner parties...

- Sleeping like you were made for it...

2 naps per day, bedtime strictly at 7pm (per your insistance), and sleep all night till 6:30am!

Thank you so much for this, by the way.

- Learning to share, thanks to Khaki's expert tutoring skills...  

Much to my dismay, she regularly though very gently helps herself to any crackers or other goodies you might be enjoying.  You are a little too generous, in my opinion.

- Watching your curves...

You usually like spinach smoothies, as long as they include plenty of banana.  Bananas and blueberries are your very favorite foods.

- Sipping away...

You love to drink out of our glasses, hence the mustache above and your fascination with the Play-Doh cup below.

I taught you to take a drink of something and finish with the CocaCola "ahhhh".  Now any time you see any kind of liquid in a container (consumable or not; child-appropriate or not), you start smacking your lips and softly breathing, "ahhhhhh -- ahhhhhh -- aaaahhhhhhhhh" as your means of asking to taste it.

You've been:

- Telling mama she a jokester...

We are working on weaning you off of formula and onto cow's milk but you're not so keen on the idea.

This smile says, "You think I'mma drink that?!  You so funny!!"

- Making messes to build Mommy's character...

 

- Keeping Rickets at bay with our usual dose of Vitamin D...

You're not 100% sure what you think of the Osprey hiking pack yet.

 

*****

--- Along that vein, can we just pause to acknowledge that this is Arizona at the end of November?

 

*****

Okay, back to you...

- You've been growing that red hair like a wild man!

- You've been wined and dined at 1 year old... 

You received your first ever bouquet of flowers, compliments of Grandpa John.  This clever design also came with a generous box of chocolate covered strawberries, which you required no coaxing to scarf down.  (Though Dad and I helped a little.)

- You (and I!) also received this delicious treat from the ever thoughtful Piotrowski bunch for our birthdays!  It was so unexpected, and we put a big dent in it fast.  Thank you, Beth and Josh, you sneaky devils.

- Reaching new heights...

You've mastered going up (not so much down) the stairs, and now climbing them repeatedly is a big piece of our day.

 

... except when you have the chance to do this:

- or this: 

- or this: 

I can tell that you are growing because when you first discovered the bathtub faucet, you couldn't reach the water.  Now you splash water everywhere, so I have to intervene if I don't want us both sopping wet.

- Often I like to go grocery shopping right away in the morning when you get up.  You don't mind being seen in public in your PJ's, especially if I brought an arsenal of graham crackers and puffs along to keep you occupied.

You are just starting to wave "hi" to people (though you don't say the word yet).  It's hit or miss whether you're willing to perform when asked.

On the menu this week: Pioneer Woman's DP Pulled Pork!

- You've been pulling up and transferring along on everything, but not yet letting go. You push your baby walker around like a pro!

*****

- Sadly, you endured your 3rd ear infection right around your birthday.

Those nasty things knock you down so badly.  Shout out to Dad for diagnosing you and calling in an abx so you could start getting better asap.

 Not one thing got accomplished around here for 2 full days except to rock you, treat your fevers, and read you some favorite books.  And though I hated for you to be sick, I cherished every minute of these snuggles.

 Oh, you did get introduced to Sesame Street.  

I figure there are worse things than a few minutes with Big Bird if it means Mama gets a shower.

 - We knew you were turning a little corner when you prompted a couple rounds of peek-a-boo...

I love this photo!

 - And before we knew it, you and Khaki were back to your old antics.

- And you were yet again charming me and your dad to death.

Taken on your first birthday.

 

 *****

You're really amazing, Nolan.  We are cherishing these days. In the coming years, I hope you know with more and more certainty the love of your parents but moreover the all consuming, immeasurable, boundless love that your Father in heaven has for you.  He is to be thanked for every single blessing, and you are at the top of our list.

We love you.

- Mom and Dad