Happy 1st Birthday, Lion!

Happy birthday to the smartest, most adorable, and well, perhaps the biggest troublemaker ;) I know!  I couldn't have dreamed up a better son, and I have enjoyed getting to be his mom.

What I didn't anticipate?  Everyone I know kept getting sad that their child was turning 1.  I kept waiting for it to hit me.  And waiting, and waiting, and waiting.  And you know what?  I'm not sad!  I truly love this age enough that I don't mourn that time is going quickly.  Now...when he moves out of toddler hood?  That may be a different story, but not right now.  I honestly will say that I don't really miss having a TINY baby.  I much prefer this rough and tumble little man who has personality in spades.

Developmentally?  He's talking a bit, but not as much as I would have thought.  He had a word spurt months ago, and then just kind of stuck there.  That doesn't mean he's not doing new things!  He points, and blows kisses, and makes what he wants VERY well known.  He can figure out all sorts of puzzles, like how to get the cans of cat food out of cabinets that have door latches on them.  He now imagines, and truly PLAYS with his toys.  Just this morning, he was opening and shutting the door on his Little People bus and putting the characters in, while saying "door" and "bus" and getting VERY excited when I sang that verse of "Wheels on the Bus".  He's understanding categories, but is making some mistakes, like when he chases Monster saying, "Dog, dog, dog".

Physically?  Walking isn't totally stable yet, but it's getting there.  He still prefers to crawl.  Did I say that he fell into a coffee table and chipped his tooth after his party on Saturday?  Well, he did.  It's not bad.  He is STRONG.  One of his favorite tricks right now is hanging.  From the counter, from the shelves, from the top of the dog cage.  We heard that my parents had to take down all their curtains with me, and I see that coming.  He's been expressing some interest in climbing them.  Oh, CLIMBING.  On his chair.  On his trike.    On the dishwasher.  He wants to get on TOP of everything right now.

Food?  He's eating everything.  Other than I still haven't tried nuts or shellfish.  He's also still nursing.  Full time.  And I'm still pumping.  :/  That was NOT the plan.  However, transitioning to milk is not going well.  He spits it and throws the cup.  He WILL drink coconut milk, but we have not transitioned at daycare.  This needs to be worked on.  Some of his current favorites?  Blueberries and animal crackers.  Last night we had Chinese food for our anniversary, and we let him have an egg roll.  HOO boy.  Kid was in heaven.  Though he kept dumping out the contents for the dog.  So, really?  He enjoyed a fried wonton wrapper.  Oh well.

Teeth?  8 teeth are fully in, one of which is now chipped.  ;)  My mother thinks that all 4 molars have broken the surface, but I have only been able to feel 1 so far.  He's not particularly into people messing with his mouth.  Really, he's been less fussy with the molars than the other teeth so far (hopefully I didn't curse myself).  I think the reason is that he's not running a simultaneous ear infection.  Which...brings us to our debate of if we really want to have tube surgery in a couple weeks.  He's now gone a month and 1/2 without an infection...hmm...we need to decide.

Trouble?  Last night was funny (but don't tell him that).  Robby is AWFUL about diaper and clothing changes.  Full out screaming, twisting, running away.  You have to physically hold him down while getting hit and yelled at.  I have not used a changing pad in months, only changing him on the floor, because he will throw himself off the table.  I'm not even joking.  My mother even started to avoid diaper changes while she was here because she had trouble controlling him.  So, my new tactic is to try and wait him out, and change him once he's calm(er).  Robby had run (naked) into the corner of his crib and the door and taunted me.  I stayed serious, and said, "Robby, come here.  We need to put a diaper on."  And that's all I said.  And all I did.  I sat there, serious-faced, repeating that.  And...patting the floor in front of me, as we might with our dog.  Unfortunately, Robby has LEARNED how we call the dog.  He proceeded to smile, and call ME by babbling and patting his leg.  Little twerp!  FINALLY, after about 10 minutes, he did voluntarily come over and the changing went much smoother than normal.  Hopefully I'm on to something.  

See how much fun he is?  Even when he's causing trouble?  I love you little man, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

      

Harassing the dog instead of taking birthday pictures.  Harper looks so sad!