1 year old

My baby Grant -
How is that we've already crossed this first birthday mile marker? Weren't you  just born? Like 2 days ago? And now all of a sudden you are 1? Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable.

You are a joy. Pure joy. I've forgotten how fun this stage is (maybe because of all that was happening in our lives when Bennett turned 1) but this is SO much fun. You light up our lives. You bring a smile to everyone you encounter. People are always stopping me to tell me what a happy baby you are and how precious you look or how your smile has just made their day. Daddy and I love you so much and thank God that He has placed you in our family.

These last 3 months have brought a good bit of changes for you. I officially weaned you right before Thanksgiving. You had been nursing about 4x a day and we slowly dropped one feeding every few days or so. You took to formula and then to whole milk like a champ. I thought I'd be very sad to no longer be nursing but we've both enjoyed the freedom that weaning brings. Since you are fully weaned, you eat everything in sight. This week, B hasn't felt well and therefore hasn't eaten well. You've totally consumed twice as much as your big brother. You eat a ton at breakfast - I usually make you get down from your high chair before I think you are truly finished. You will eat basically everything we eat as a family, with just a few exceptions. Bananas are not a favorite though. Never have been. You feed yourself most of the time. Actually, if I don't let you finger your food, you get angry with me.

You are crawling and pulling up and cruising all over the place. You've developed this funky little crawl where you get around more by sitting and scooting than a true crawl. But, man, can you move fast. You think it's super funny to crawl away from me when I want you to come towards me. You giggle and scoot away as fast as you can. Silly boy. 

We've been anticipating more teeth at any point, but right now, you've still got 4 little toofers. It looks like perhaps you might even have a cute little gap between your front top teeth. People still wonder if your hair is still red, and it's safe to say that I think the ginger-coloring is here to stay. I can't imagine you any other way!

This week, you weighed in at 24 lbs and 31" long - holding steady in the 85th percentile range. You are in 18 month clothing and are a solid 24 lbs. We moved you into a big boy carseat before our trip up north. You seem so little to me to be doing that and yet you are larger than B was at this age.

You are still babbling up a storm. You say "mama", "dada", "hi", "uh-oh", "ball", "dog", and sort of "all done". You sign "all done" consistently when you are finished eating and are ready to get down. You wave hi and bye and point to everything. We think you are even saying "What's that?" but aren't entirely sure. You are trying to make a dog sound and get very excited when you see a dog in a book. You play that wonderful game of dropping food off of your tray and then look around and innocently say, "uh oh".

Bennett is quickly becoming a friend, although I do wonder how much longer you are going to put up with him playing rough with you. I anticipate very quickly the time coming when you'll be able to hit him back. He is starting to become sweeter with you and right now we are working with him on helping you stay safe, rather than putting you in harm's way.

My sweet, happy, happy little boy!

Wrestling with your big brother

Sitting in your "new" rocking chair for your room

Enjoying Fall during our whirlwind trip to IN/PA in October

Our family of pumpkins

Pumpkin Patch with the Shipps

You seriously have the prettiest eyes in the whole world!

I heart you. With my whole self.

You little charmer, you.

Becoming a daddy's boy

Loving the fact that you can eat big people food now!

1st Christmas - Christmas pj's 2012

Aunt Erin and her little men :)

1st Christmas! Playing with your stuffed dog

Merry Christmas!!!

Your precious smile and your precious curls! I can't stand the thought of cutting them!

Happy 1st Birthday, Grant!!!

You are my sweetheart, Grant. I love being your mama. You bring light to my days and there are times that I stop and look at you and think, how on earth did I get to be so lucky to be his mom? You are precious to me and I love you.

Happy 1st Birthday. You are loved. You are special. And you are important to me.
Love, Mommy