Henry's 12 Months Old

We made it to the BIG first birthday! A few tears may have been shed by myself, but mostly it was a happy day full of reminiscing over the past year. And oh what a wonderful, challenging year it was.
Henry taught all of us so much, and hopefully we taught him a thing or two :)

I should have put the sticker on his bottom for this photo shoot.

Other than turning one, another big first for the month was Christmas! He met Santa and did NOT like him, understandable. He opened a present from under the tree all by himself and without me knowing, but great job, bud. He enjoyed celebrating Christmas in Oklahoma with tons of cousins. And he certainly enjoyed opening and playing with all his new toys.

This boy would not sit still!

Here is what all happened this month:

Eating: I started weaning Henry from breast milk. He now only gets breast milk three times a day and gets cows milk with his snacks. He took to cows milk like a champ. He is definitely easier at transitioning to new things, unlike his brother.

Activity: I've noticed Emerson and Henry interacting and "talking" more to each other. I love watching their relationship grow. Henry has started to cruise the furniture and stand up independently, but I still feel like we are still a long ways away from walking. He is also now waves and points to things.

Sleeping: Henry has been hit or miss on naps lately. Some days he takes only one, other days two. It's nice to be able to skip that morning nap and be able to get out and about. But he really needs two naps still. On the days he just takes one, he is cranky and most likely over tired and won't nap well. We are just in the glorious phase of nap transitioning.

Serious...

Smirk...

 

Smile.

Doctor Visit Stats:

• Height: 2 ft, 5 in (75%)
• Weight: 21 lbs (47%)
• Other: We switched pediatricians and I could not be happier! Sometimes the hardest part about moving into a new community is not knowing who and where to go for health care. After living here for over a year, I received lots of good advice about who to go to. Our new pediatrician got lots of great reviews and her husband is a family doctor in the same office, so it's a one stop shop, so to speak.

Likes, Dislikes and Other Milestones:

• Hair is still thin, but it seems to be getting darker and curler in the back, so in other words, he has a mullet.
• Finally seem to be gaining weight. Love seeing rolls on those thighs.
• Said his first word, "Dada."
• Loves giving kisses.
• Has mastered walking in a walker when we play outside. 
• Wears a size 4 diaper.
• Wears 12 month clothing.
• Still working on getting his front tooth in, has 5 teeth total.
• Loves reading his Baby Peek-A-Boo book. 
• Likes bath time with brother, but only for a short amount of time. 
• Does not like being taken in and out of the car seat/stroller.
• Does not like green beans.
• Loves blueberries!

Twelve Months Old: Happy First Birthday!

Everyone always said it and I never believed it...but time has flown by and I don't know what happened to my baby boy. My sweet boy turned one year old, where has the time gone?

Although my baby has grown up in a blink of an eye, when I look back on the past year it actually feels like it went by very slowly. I think that's because of how much change has happened in one year, it makes it feel more like 10 years.

All week I reflected on certain memories, first time I saw him, first sets of holidays, moments of holding him while he slept, remembering how he looked coming out of surgery (x2), first smile/laugh, etc. Even though there were many sleepless nights and cranky mornings, I would do it over and over again to experience all the joyful moments he has brought Jesse and I.

What a great year...here is a break down of his last month as a "baby":

Sleeping: I think it's official, Emerson sleeps through the night (even away from home)...knock on wood! I didn't have to get up with him in the middle of the night once this month. I love getting a full nights sleep again.
Eating: Still likes to throw food on the floor to show that he is done eating and I am still working on teaching him not to do that. It is a little better. I have taught his to say "all done" and throw his hands in the air as he "says" it. We don't teach baby sign language,  it's more like momma's sign language, so we have our own code.
Activity: He will take a few steps while holding your hands, but he would still rather crawl. I am not worried about him walking, I know in his own time he will take his first independent steps. For now I am enjoying this stage, because once he figures out to walk, there is no going back.

Doctor visit stats:

• Weight: 20 lbs 3 oz (31%)
• Height: 30 inches (56%)
• Other: this appointment was a killer! He had four shots and one finger prick : ( He was not a happy camper. Everything else went well though and he is developing on track.

Likes, dislikes and other milestones:

• Likes to swallow food whole, no time for chewing when you are hungry
• I left Emerson overnight for the first time. He did great for daddy!
• Likes to point
• Can now say and understand "duck", "ball", "tractor", "bubble"
• Clucks his tongue
• Knows where my nose is at...but not his : )
• Likes to stand on tippy toes to reach things on the counter
• Now rides in his big boy (convertible) car seat
• Dances/bobs head up and down to music
• Loves to play chase around the house
• So good at cruising that he can cruise along the wall
• Likes to give momma kisses. They melt my heart!
• Has 8 teeth
• Likes to open and shut every door, especially the refrigerator
• Drank from a straw for the first time. We weren't even trying, he just reached over to Grammy's water cup and took a sip
• Dislikes being carried around outside, he would rather crawl on the grass
• Dislikes strawberries...this can't be my child, I hope his tastes change
• Went to his first wedding, Julie and Rob Emery
• Celebrated his first birthday!

"That's a wrap, folks"