One Year Old

Dear Ethan,

The dreaded day has come and gone.  You are officially a year old.  Not a baby anymore, even though you will always be my baby. 

 

We've reached that point where you are just constantly changing and learning new things every day.  It is so fun and yet I wish we could slow down and enjoy each one a little bit more.

You are talking.  You've always been my most verbal baby.  You talk nonsense to me all the time, and I love it.  You've even started singing in the past few days.  You think that every animal says, "Moo."  I caught this awesome "conversation" on camera with your stuffed cow.   I like how every few "words" you throw a "moo" in (or "boo" as it often comes out)

You have a few words - as I wrote last month, your first word was "Go".  You also say "Ball" consistently, and my favorite is "Bubba", which is how you say "Teddy Bear." 

Snuggles with Mommy & Bubba

Speaking of teddy bears, our nursery has always been teddy bear themed, ever since we were expecting Ryan.  Neither of the other two boys ever seemed to care much about the multitude of teddy bears decorating the room.  But last month, you started pointing at them, and I would talk to you about them, but didn't think much about it.  Your pointing became more and more insistent, and so one day I took one down for you.  You instantly grabbed it and snuggled it and didn't want to let go.  Now, I'd been trying to get you to attach to a lovee for months now and you wouldn't really accept anything.  But you started sleeping with that bear and immediately all fussing for naps and bedtime ceased.  Soon thereafter, you started pointing to him (and all of the other bears) and saying "Bubba", so I have officially named him that :-)  If you had your way, I think you would sleep with your crib full of bears, but I've limited you to two for now. 

You've taken a step or two a couple of times, but you haven't taken off yet.  I'm sure it won't be long.  In the meantime, you're a super fast crawler, and you really enjoy pushing your walker (inside) or truck (outside) around. 



You have six teeth now, and you keep growing like a weed.  In the past 3 months, you grew an inch and a half and gained 3 lbs (up to 24 lb 4 oz) - still the biggest of all of my boys!  Fruit and crackers are by far your favorite foods, but you're a pretty good eater all-around. You only nurse once a day now, before bed.  Mommy's not quite ready to give it up completely yet, and you seem happy to go along with it. 



Of course, a lot of this month has been spent celebrating Thanksgiving and preparing for Christmas.  We went to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, and you were a good sport on the plane rides and enjoyed your time exploring Nana & Papa's house, pulling all of the paper out of Nana's paper drawer, and spending quality time with Nana, Papa, aunts, uncles and cousin.

 

You've also enjoyed the Christmas decorations at home, and you've been surprisingly gentle with the tree.


You like: your family, practicing new tricks (clapping, blowing kisses, etc.), balls, teddy bears, being outside, eating, baths, riding in shopping carts, playing in the play room

 



You don't like: car rides, being hungry, getting changed (diaper or clothes), being still.

Ethan, this past year has been incredible, and you have brought me so much happiness through the best of days and the worst of days.  You fit into our family far better than I ever hoped or imagined, and I could not be more pleased to be a mommy to 3 sweet, healthy, happy little boys.  I thank God every day for the gift that you are to me, and I love being your Mommy.  May you continue to grow strong and healthy and spread joy and love wherever you go.  

Love,

Mommy