The Cake Progression

Apparently I have no clue how to arrange photos on this site so you will have to start at the bottom and scroll up for the party pics and cake eating. One day I will figure it out!

The Birthday Party

The BIG first birthday!!

My little fellow has turned one! How exciting to know that a new parent can actually make it through the first year and still have a bit of sanity remaining!! While this has been a trying year for me in the sleep department, I have enjoyed every waking (literally every waking moment!) watching my little man grow, and grow, and grow a little more. There have been so many milestones in this first year of life. I mean, 12 months ago he was a little ball of flesh that just kind of moaned, ate, pooped, slept, and started all over again. Now, he is running all over, trying to say words, pushing toys around the house, sleeping some, eating like he is always starved, making friends, and the list goes on and on.

One of the most fun parts of watching this little man grow is seeing how his personality is developing and the way in which he is defining who "wake" is. I know this too will be a life long progression and there will be parts of it that are difficult, but for now...it is pretty darn cool. Wake is becoming Wake.

We had a blast throwing his first birthday party last weekend, July 24th. I think the adults had just as much fun as the kids! Wake was not at all scared to dig into his monkey cake and make a huge mess. It was so cute to watch his cake attack!

We are heading on our first vacation soon to St.Maarten. This will be wake's first time on a plane. This could go a couple of ways...we shall see! Luckily, the entire family is on the plane so there are many hands to hold him and entertain him. And, Nana will be on the plane and she is usually pretty good with keeping him content! I am sooooo looking forward to this trip. I need a little sun and relaxing after this year!!!

July 4th Weekend

We spent July 4th weekend out at Kiawah with the Freeman family. Wake was really into the 4th spirit as well as spending his fair share of time in the ocean and the pool. We have a true water baby on our hands!!

Wake walking on camera for first time!

Promise he did not fall on his head and he is fine!!

wakes first crawl...at Nana's two months ago!

One of my fav photos...

This little man can eat soooo much food. It is unbelievable how much he can put into his mouth. And they told me at his nine month appt. he wasn't big enough!!

Wake on the Move

Wake loves running around the house with his walker. He looks like a little old man and it is the cutest thing. This was a video for last week. He has since gotten very fast, but still can't figure out how to turn around!

Baby Pool Time

Swim Lessons

Wake is a natural in the pool. He loves the water and about has his breast stroke down already. He'll be swimming in no time!

Beach Bum

He has been having a great time at his twice weekly swim class at the Y. He will be sad when it ends!

Bath Time and Easter

Wake and the Easter bunny

Chillin' in his summer wear

Wake wearing one of Hunter's old outfits

Bath time...Wake's favorite time of the day!

Beach and standing

Wake started pulling up to stand a couple weeks ago. He thinks he is such a big boy now!

When we went down to Kiawah he figured out that sand is good!

The boy loves pickles. I mean loves them!!

8 and a half months...wow

As I write this i am still wondering where all this time went. I mean my little one couldn't even grab, clap or try to be independent two months ago. Well, forget all that, Wake is his own man these days. Yes, he still needs mama and does still want mama, but he is finding out that he is Wake. And one day, Wake will be responsible for Wake. While I hate to think about those days of worry, I do hope that I can instill in him now a sense of responsibility and independence early on.

We have just started swim lessons which he absolutely loves. He has developed his own style of the breast stroke which is just so funny to watch. I will get a video posted of this asap. He just kicks and splashes and doesn't mind getting water all in his face. He may be swimming before he ever crawls! While he is not crawling he does pull up on surfaces and "cruise" around the room. There is still the occasional face plant, but he will eventually learn you can't just let go! He is loving his new found mobility. However, it is beginning to terrify me!!

We have had some recent visits from aunt c and uncle jarad as well as nana and papa ray. He just loves hanging out with family and friends. And mom enjoys some extra time to get some things done...for once!

Wake is an eater like his parents. He loves food. He loves everything that goes in his mouth. He is pretty much chomping on what we eat, just in a pureed fashion. He still has no teeth but he sure has learned how to gum any finger food that he needs to chew up. It is cute to watch. When the plate goes empty, this man screams for more. He is porking up quickly!

Wake is cute as a button and while he keeps me awake at night, I can't help but give him a million kisses a day! We are just enjoying each and every day with this little fellow.

Snow Day March 2010

February Photos

My first day in the snow.

My cool overalls.

Eating my favorite cookies.

How I look when mommy leaves daddy in charge.

Six month updates

As I write this blog I have a screaming baby up in his crib. Why is he screaming you ask? Well, we have no idea. He usually goes down to bed fine and may wake in the night but not this early. I fear a bad, bad night ahead. I've checked on him and covered all the bases but he is not happy. At all. An unhappy baby is a confused and frustrated parent, but i remain calm.

Well, until i go back up and check on him again i suppose i will continue. Wake just turned six months this past week. He had his checkup yesterday and he is 16lb.3oz. He is a little on the small side (although he doesn't look it), but there is plenty of him to love (even when he is wailing)! He is now sitting up on his own which is probably his biggest milestone this month. He loves to act like a big boy! He grabs everything in his path and wants to put it all in his mouth. I fear the grabbing crawler that is in the foreseeable future!

Wait...i think he stopped crying...could it be? 40 minutes later...holding breath, holding breath...

Wake is also eating more solids now. I've expanded his edible delights to oatmeal (which he loves the most), carrots, peas, prunes, sweet potatoes, bananas, applesauce, watery apple juice, and bitter biscuits and pickles which he likes to suck on thru his mesh bag feeder. I've been preparing all of his food on my own so he gets that extra special mama touch. A touch he probably will never really appreciate, but i do it for me cause i like to cook and i like to make him healthy.

Three minutes and still asleep...please, please stay asleep at least until 5am. Please...

My favorite thing he does now is while i'm holding him he will sometimes just stare at me and take in my face. Kind of like he is trying to understand me and what i'm feeling and doing in that moment. I can see him out the corner of my eye doing this and then i will look over at him and he will draw his face back and make the cutest little double chin and then he will light up with a smile you just want to eat up it is so sweet. Maybe this is something only I can understand but it will be one of those moments that I will always think of as he grows up.

Well, 9 minutes and he is still sleeping so I am going to sign out now and go watch Grey's Anatomy. And then hopefully...sleep!

Sitting up and trying to self feed

Never turn your back while feeding a baby...dirty things happen!

Look mom, I'm sitting on my own!!