One Year!

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy Eddie!  I can hardly believe it's been one full year since you finally showed up in this world.  I waited so long for you and all those days past my due date seemed like forever!  I thought for sure you were going to show up on the 16th, which I was really happy about, so you wouldn't have a holiday birthday.  But of course that didn't happen either!  You came out when you were good and ready and haven't stopped moving since!!!

It's been an amazing year.  Watching you grow and develop and turn into this wonderful little boy.  Some days have been more challenging than others, but ultimately I wouldn't trade a day of it for anything.  The good days have far out-numbered the bad days and your darling smile is all I need to brighten my day!  I look forward to this next year and beyond.

This month's update:
Sleeping - we have actually changed Eddie's bed time to 7 pm this week.  We did it along with daylight savings time, so essentially we kept his schedule the exact same, but due to the time change, it's been shifted an hour.  He doesn't really see a change other than we can now eat dinner together as a family which is really nice.  The biggest impact is actually on me since his naps have moved to different times.  Overall it seems to be working out just fine, but it's only been a few days.

Walking - Eddie definitely walks more than crawls these days.  In fact he prefers to walk, but he still can't get up on his own.  He needs something to hang onto to pull himself up.  I went out and bought some hard sole shoes so he can actually walk around outside.  With all the melting, I didn't want him soaking his other shoes.  Plus, he'd probably wear a hole in those soles in no time at all.  He's adjusting to walking with hard soles, but I think he'll get the hang of it soon enough.

Communication - last month I mentioned that he didn't show any interest in sign language.  This month he is actually doing a sign for "all done".  It's not quite the sign as he puts his hands on his head, but close enough.  The only issue with that is if we are eating something really messy (like chili), it gets all over his head.  His ability to understand what we are saying increases daily.  He has also learned to shake his head no.  Right now its the cutest thing ever.  He smiles and does it and it makes me laugh.  He does it in the right context (he first learned it while standing over Sammy's food dish).  Sometimes though he'll just do it, I think to make Uncas or I laugh.  So far it works every time!

Playing - Recently Eddie has discovered that the kitchen can be even more fun.  He likes nothing more than to go into the cabinets and play with the pots and pans.  He's learning which lids fit on which pots.  I think he just likes to take things out and make a mess more than anything.  If I put them away, he'll walk back into the kitchen and make a beeline for the cabinets.  I am pretty sure he's thinking that something isn't right - it's too clean in here!  He still loves books and will bring them over to me so I can read them to him.  I think it's great and I hope his love of books continues.

Food - Eddie is still eating quite a bit.  He does three meals a day with an afternoon snack.  He is also still taking a bottle 4 times a day.  He's been doing great with his sippy cup which contains water during his meals and snacks.  We aren't really in a rush to wean him from the bottle, especially since he is just getting the hang of the sippy cup.  He hasn't been throwing as much food off of his high chair tray lately.  I can't tell if it's just because we are getting better about clearing it the minute something goes to the ground or he is learning.  Now that we are able to eat more meals with him, he seems to be doing better about eating.

Other - For the most part he is a pretty happy little boy.  He likes to give us hugs if we ask for them.  He has started to cuddle more now that he is older.  I think he enjoys being close.  When he's hurt or if he falls down, he likes to be comforted and I am glad that he has learned that he can come to us for this.

He still using his nuk for naps and for bedtime.  Like the bottle, we have no desire to wean him from this habit.  He also has a cuddle blanket that he uses for sleeping.  Both stay in his crib and I think he knows that is where they belong.  Sometimes if we are playing in his room, he'll grab his blanket and cuddle it or he'll put his nuk in his mouth, but he always gives it up when I ask for it.

He has become more gentle with Sammy, although he still has his moments when he is too rough and he wants to play and Sammy doesn't.  Eddie's "job" every morning is to take Sammy's collar from the table and walk it over to him and give it to him.  It's very cute.  Eddie also likes to give Sammy treats when Sammy comes in from outside.  He does a great job and doesn't even try to eat them, anymore.

I've enjoyed doing these monthly updates and I think it's been great that I have been so diligent doing them every month.  Realistically I know that this is the right time to stop.  Babies change so much in the first year and I feel like I have been able to capture and remember Eddie's growth.  In  a few short months, I'll have another little one and trying to do monthly updates for two kids seems a little overwhelming.  So in fairness to Baby #2, I am choosing to just limit these monthly updates for a year.  Of course I'll still be blogging about Eddie, so you'll get updates on him - just not in a nice little monthly recap!

Of course a big reason to stop the monthly updates is so that I can stop taking these pictures!  It seemed like a great idea at the time, but Eddie's so active, that these past few months have been a joke.  I don't even really try for a "good" picture because it would take me forever.  Instead I am enjoying how silly these are!

I'll smile, but I like playing with this light more.

Sammy decides to get in on the action

Best picture

And we're done!