I'm one week late, but Happy Birthday little El!
Here is a little of what you are like at one year old:
You are happy. And mellow. People comment on this constantly! You are always grinning, and you rarely put up much of a fuss about anything...you can be hungry and you still just wait patiently for food! If you were a different, less mellow baby, there is no way I would have dreamed of taking you and O halfway across the country to camp in Kansas for 2 weeks. And you give the best kisses!! This started only a week or so ago, but you lean in with a big open mouth that closes right as you get to our face and even make a good "mwah" kissing sound...it's very sweet! You are even insistent on giving O kisses...and your stuffed animals.
You are very much on the go these days. You will tolerate being held and snuggled if you're tired, otherwise you like to be down on the ground where you can be part of the action with O. You're still crawling (quite quickly!) and you've figured out how to get up the stairs (to my dismay...and a couple head bumps), but you also pull yourself up to cruise around the couch/chairs/coffee table, and I think you'll walk sooner than your brother did.
You love your big brother and want to do/play with whatever he is doing/playing with...and for his part he wants to do whatever you are doing (I think out of attention and jealousy...but also love), this can create a bit of a vicious cycle! You are quite good at standing your ground when O tries to take away whatever ball/truck/car/etc. you are playing with. You hold on with a death grip and let out a big scream...and I think you win the battle more often than not.
You are a great eater. You are not so big on us feeding you anymore, but you have a good pincer grasp and pick up all sorts of table foods...we haven't met a food yet that you won't eat!
You are also a really great sleeper. You have been sleeping through the night (7pm to 6-7am) since you were about 2 months old, and you still take 2 naps a day for anywhere from 1.5-3 hours a nap. You are super easy to get to sleep. We read you a book, and lay you down in the crib and you'll just lie there playing with your paci until you fall asleep. I've checked on you 15 min later, and sometimes you are still awake, just lying there content, not making a peep. Sometimes when you wake up in the morning or from naps you'll just hang out in your crib being quiet playing with your animals or looking at a book. Like I said, you are not a fusser.
You babble a fair bit (particularly if O is not around) and your first word is "ball" although it sounds more like "bah", but it's very clear that you are referring to your favourite toy. You may also say "truck" and you say "Mama"...although I'm not sure yet if you actually use this for me or just say it generally. You definitely understand us when we say "No" to you...like when you are trying to climb the stairs or play with the stereo. You stop doing whatever it is, then you get this little mischievous grin and a little twinkle in your eye, and try again...you're funny!
Peanut, you have made our family complete and we love you so, so much. I am excited to see the toddler you'll become in the coming year!
And here are your stats:
height: 31.5" 95%
weight: 22# 4.8oz 65%
head: 18.5" 75%
You are still long and pretty thin for your height!
And now the pictures! Grandma arrived on El's b-day to be here for the (first) celebration, and stayed through the weekend for his party. It was such a nice visit, with lots of play time!!
Here is a little of what you are like at one year old:
You are happy. And mellow. People comment on this constantly! You are always grinning, and you rarely put up much of a fuss about anything...you can be hungry and you still just wait patiently for food! If you were a different, less mellow baby, there is no way I would have dreamed of taking you and O halfway across the country to camp in Kansas for 2 weeks. And you give the best kisses!! This started only a week or so ago, but you lean in with a big open mouth that closes right as you get to our face and even make a good "mwah" kissing sound...it's very sweet! You are even insistent on giving O kisses...and your stuffed animals.
You are very much on the go these days. You will tolerate being held and snuggled if you're tired, otherwise you like to be down on the ground where you can be part of the action with O. You're still crawling (quite quickly!) and you've figured out how to get up the stairs (to my dismay...and a couple head bumps), but you also pull yourself up to cruise around the couch/chairs/coffee table, and I think you'll walk sooner than your brother did.
You love your big brother and want to do/play with whatever he is doing/playing with...and for his part he wants to do whatever you are doing (I think out of attention and jealousy...but also love), this can create a bit of a vicious cycle! You are quite good at standing your ground when O tries to take away whatever ball/truck/car/etc. you are playing with. You hold on with a death grip and let out a big scream...and I think you win the battle more often than not.
You are a great eater. You are not so big on us feeding you anymore, but you have a good pincer grasp and pick up all sorts of table foods...we haven't met a food yet that you won't eat!
You are also a really great sleeper. You have been sleeping through the night (7pm to 6-7am) since you were about 2 months old, and you still take 2 naps a day for anywhere from 1.5-3 hours a nap. You are super easy to get to sleep. We read you a book, and lay you down in the crib and you'll just lie there playing with your paci until you fall asleep. I've checked on you 15 min later, and sometimes you are still awake, just lying there content, not making a peep. Sometimes when you wake up in the morning or from naps you'll just hang out in your crib being quiet playing with your animals or looking at a book. Like I said, you are not a fusser.
You babble a fair bit (particularly if O is not around) and your first word is "ball" although it sounds more like "bah", but it's very clear that you are referring to your favourite toy. You may also say "truck" and you say "Mama"...although I'm not sure yet if you actually use this for me or just say it generally. You definitely understand us when we say "No" to you...like when you are trying to climb the stairs or play with the stereo. You stop doing whatever it is, then you get this little mischievous grin and a little twinkle in your eye, and try again...you're funny!
Peanut, you have made our family complete and we love you so, so much. I am excited to see the toddler you'll become in the coming year!
And here are your stats:
height: 31.5" 95%
weight: 22# 4.8oz 65%
head: 18.5" 75%
You are still long and pretty thin for your height!
And now the pictures! Grandma arrived on El's b-day to be here for the (first) celebration, and stayed through the weekend for his party. It was such a nice visit, with lots of play time!!
 |
| "I'm one!" |
 |
| new dump truck and front loader from Grandma and Grandpa... |
 |
| which O promptly appropriated as his own to play with |
 |
| almost ready for cake!! |
 |
| key-lime-pie-glistening-face-food-coma |
 |
| some backyard pool and sprinkler time with Grandma! |
 |
| at El's party on the weekend all the kids played in the sprinkler and pool...it was awesome and kept them entertained for hours! |
 |
| three generations! |
 |
| mmmm....chocolate cake with peanut butter icing and a banana layer... |
 |
| big brother helped with the candle blowing |
 |
| mmm...stuffing his face with chocolate cake...what better way to end a party? |
 |
| not so happy being sprinkled, but he had to get his ball. |
 |
| brothers!!! |
 |
| O also appropriated this new Thomas toy...I'm not sure El has even gotten to play with it yet |
