Your FIRST Birthday!!

On Feb 1st, you turned ONE YEAR OLD! I am blown away by how much time has just flown by. How has it already been a year since that sweet day we first met you. Neither your daddy nor I can remember what life was like before you - we have become a perfectly in synch little family of 3 and it only gets better from here.
There are so many things to say about you. You are SUCH a blast, I rush home every single day just to hang out with you. You laugh, sing and dance. Your favorite thing in the world is books, which just melts my heart. And you are becoming more lovey and cuddly by the day, which makes your wildly affectionate mommy very happy.
Here's a guide to your big one year old self:
- You LOVE the sound of your voice, in particular, your screaming voice
- Love to play chase and hide and go seek, like to be surprised
- You point at things you want to know more about, or things you want to feel/get closer to
- You crawl in and on top of everything; your favorite toy right now is a cardboard box from Costco
- You love using a spoon in your yogurt and applesauce, and you can effectively use a fork in pasta; you will no longer let us feed you, it's all in your control now
- You shake your head no for fun as you smile
- Words: Dada (always, always dada), tay-tu (thank you), nana (banana), li-coh (lincoln, our big dog), uh oh, choo-choo. Yeah, that's right, you still have not said mama and connected it with me. This is KILLING me dude! Good news is: I know you love me best. So there.
- Favorite Foods: blueberries, bananas, anything with peanut butter on it (like your mama), grapes, spaghetti, avocado, squash, beans, pizza, enchiladas
- Not so Favorite Foods: strawberries, tomatoes

And some shots from your birthday party (which was Sunday, Jan 29th)!

In attendance: Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Cam, Aunt Tracy and Erik, Aunt Lori and Uncle Jason and your best buds in the world: Jackson and Maverick. 

We got you 30 balloons - your face just LIT UP when you saw them

Looking so handsome in your sweatervest and mock tie

Buddies helping you open all of your amazing presents!

New book = must read now

The real present

Not one, but TWO cakes. The one on the left was your very own "smash" cake, the one on the right was banana cake, just as delicious as it sounds. All HAND MADE (and frosted freehand) by the young and talented Miss Allie Wilson, who had never seen Yo Gabba before this cake; amazing job!

A Family Photo (a rare occurrence)   

We let you go...

And go....

And go...

Mommy's first mommy crafting: a 12-month banner collage featuring photos of you each month of your life, now hanging in your bedroom.

So fun.  Thanks for being born, buddy. You light up our lives, every single day.