Like I usually am when one of my boys turns 1, I've been feeling very emotional about your big birthday. As I was wrapping your presents and frosting your birthday cake last night, I laid my head on the kitchen table and sobbed. Turning one is a huge milestone because it feels like it's the end of your babyhood, to me at least. It's the beginning of you starting to get more independent and pulling away from me. It makes me sad.
You are on the move, boy! From the moment you wake up until you crash at night, you are crawling everywhere, pulling yourself up on furniture, and destroying everything in your path. Getting anything productive done while you're awake is completely out of the question. You undo everything I manage to get done so I'm left scrambling to clean the house and be productive while you're napping. I wish I could rest instead but there's no way! You're a tornado. Your favorite activities are unloading the dishwasher and climbing on top of the door, unloading the tupperware and toy drawers, tossing my makeup out of its case, and unrolling toilet paper.
Another recent favorite activity of yours is climbing up and down the stairs. If we're hanging out in the basement, you make a beeline straight to the staircase. I have to follow behind you so you don't fall. You are making a lot of progress, especially in going down the stairs backwards. When you get close to the edge, you know to turn around and go down feet first. This makes me happy because having the baby gate up is a huge pain. I'm looking forward to the day when I trust you around the stairs and we take it down. Whenever you're on the stairs, you get a huge smile on your face and are clearly very proud. It's pretty adorable. I love watching you excel and gain confidence.
Just like last month, you have 6 teeth. I haven't noticed any others trying to push through. You are a pretty good eater in the sense that you'll try things, but you sure don't eat very much. You're usually done after 4 or 5 bites. I'm working with you on trying to get you to eat more, so hopefully you'll improve in the next few months. I'm really not stressed about it. You are still nursing 4 times a day; once when you wake up in the morning, once before each of your naps, and once before bed. You still love to nurse and I'm still loving it too. There is nothing sweeter than having your warm, relaxed body curling around mine while you rest your little hand on my chest. It is truly heaven. I always tell your dad that I want to breastfeed babies for eternity. If I can't nurse babies in heaven, I don't want to go. ;)
I don't want to jinx anything by saying this, but your sleeping is amazing right now. I want to enjoy it while it lasts because I know it won't always be the case. But right now you take two consistent naps; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You usually sleep for 1 1/2-2 hrs for each nap. You also sleep through the night, usually for 11-12 straight hours. It's amazing. I love getting you up because you are ridiculously happy and smiley after you wake up.
You are a very vocal little guy. You can say mama (first word!), dada, and HI! You say hello with such enthusiasm that I can't help but laugh every time you do it. When I walk into the room you look up at me and yell HI!!! in a loud voice. You have starting shrieking at the top of your lungs when you want something- food, attention, or a toy. It's always high-pitched and ear-splitting. It's definitely not my favorite but it makes me laugh because at least you are letting your wishes known! You yell and babble all day long. I love it. I can't wait to hear more of what you have to say!
You love taking baths but you are doing this new scary thing I can't stand where you won't sit down in the tub. I try to manually bend your legs for you and push your bum down to the bottom to make you sit, but won't have it. Of course, you've slipped more times than I can count and gotten a face full of water. I don't even feel comfortable walking out of the bathroom for a second because I'm afraid you'll go under while I'm gone. You scare me.
Isaac, I sure adore you. I am having so much fun with you. I think I'm enjoy each of my babies a little more every time because I know from experience how fast it goes. You have the brightest, happiest little personality. I can't help but be happy when I'm around you. You seriously never cry and have such a great disposition. You're a rockstar!
Love forever and ever,
Mama
12 Month Stats:
Weight: 22.6 lbs (43rd percentile)
Height: 30 1/2 in (51st percentile)
Head Circumference: 18.3 in (49th percentile)
