ONE

Our baby boy is ONE!

A year ago, our hearts doubled in size for this new little life and he’s been the most perfect addition to our family. This has been the best year ever with this baby.  I remember the day he was born, knowing the first year flies by.  Soaking up his baby smell, his baby skin, his baby noises.  Making it a point to take in every little moment of his first year every single day.  Although I do feel like this year flew and I'm sad that he's not a "baby" anymore (but let's be honest, he'll always be our baby :) ), I truly feel like we savored every moment and had such a full year with him.

He continues to be the happiest little guy, not bothered by a whole lot.  Although, when he's tired or hungry he definitely lets you know :). He is truly the biggest lover.  He gives the BEST hugs. Best, best, best.  He's especially been loving on his Daddy lately, every time Matt picks him up he nestles right in and squeezes him so tight, a good grip on his shirt.  Whenever you pick him up, he immediately hugs you and will then proceed to pat your shoulder :) But don't you dare try to throw him in the air or lift him any higher than your shoulder-he freaks out and bawls immediately.  So unlike his big brother at this age!  He's been giving kisses more! He opens in his mouth and then leans him head into you.  Last night, I said "Bodey, give Barrett a kiss!" and he leaned in and gave him one! Melt my heart. He LOVES his brother.  Either is smiling and trying to be with him constantly or crying because Barrett won't leave him alone lol. 

He just started being able to follow simple commands-"give the car to Daddy." "Give me a kiss". "Blow a kiss". "Give Jax his bone." It's so cute.  He is talking even more. Favorite words are "booka" (literally says it all day and it's the cutest thing ever. He's so intentional with it), "book" (one of his very first words and he says it all the time), "duck", "mama", "dada", "nana".  He can point to his head, when you ask "where's Bodey?" he covers his eyes and then plays peekaboo, waves, motions "come on" with his hand, isn't doing too much signing but will randomly do "more" and "eat".

He LOVES food. Eats 3 meals a day, a snack, and still nurses 4 times a day.  He yells for food.  Put him in his highchair and don't have food or Cheerios readily available? He will yell. His food is gone before he's ready for it to be gone? Yells. He loves food with flavor and wants nothing to do with bland food.  Not a fan of veggies other than avocado, sweet potato, cooked carrots, and sometimes corn and bell peppers. Don't even try to give him peas, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, etc.  He'll politely throw it off his plate to the dog.  Favorite foods are chicken sausage (the more flavor the better), tacos, meatloaf, ALL fruits, waffles, hard-boiled eggs, sweet potato, dry cereal, yogurt, cheese, hummus, shredded taco chicken, white chicken chili, seriously-the more the flavor the better.  Officially off bottles during the day at the sitter and does milk out of a straw cup instead.  Haven't started milk yet, he still just gets breastmilk in his cups. Does still get a bottle before bed on days I work, but I'm sure we could easily wean him from that.  

Loves baths, but prefers a bath by himself vs a bath with his brother. Barrett is too crazy in the bath and Bodey gets nervous and then cries. He loves splashing and bubbles and playing with his bath toys.  Loves climbing-will climb onto the couch by stepping onto his anywhere chair (which he loves climbing into and sitting in, even if Barrett is already sitting in it). Actually can already figure out how to get off the couch too.

Biggest thing this month? WALKING! He took his first steps the week of his birthday and then a few days after he turned one he was off! Walking all over the place. And stable! It's like he watched and waited until he was ready and then was off like a rockstar.  He even was able to get up to standing from sitting a couple weeks later.  It's so cute.  He'll just walk all over the house entertaining himself and exploring. And getting into things! Loves getting into the toilet, cabinets, drawers, boxes, would rather play in the kitchen pulling everything out of drawers than with toys. But really does do a great job playing by himself! Loves cars and books the most.  Laughs when you "chase" him and say "I'm going to get you!". Wearing 9-12 month and a couple 12-18 month clothes, size 4 diapers. Loves being held and still gets in the Ergo quite a bit-sits still as stone and smiles so big while he watches me put it on :). 

One year old schedule:

430/530 am: wakes to nurse and then goes right back to sleep

7/730 am: lately has been waking up for the day whenever Bear wakes up since he dinosaur stomps down the hallway

8 am: breakfast 

9/930 am: nurses (or milk in cup for sitter)

10 am: nap

12 pm: lunch food

1:30 pm: nurses (or milk in cup for sitter)

2:30 pm: nap

4 pm: snack

530 pm: dinner

730 pm: nurse and bed!

He takes two naps-one is usually 1.5 hours (2 hours on a rare occasion) and the other is 45 min-1 hr. At bedtime, he usually either comes in Barrett's room while we read books or stays with Daddy while we do.  Once B is in bed, we go get pj's on, read a book, lights off (closet light on), nurses, and then I rock him and sing while he falls asleep.  Then he sleeps all night until he wakes to nurse at 430/530 am.

I find myself staring at him and just taking him in-the love I have for him is indescribable. We all do; we just love him so hard.  He is a magnet.  He draws people to him and it's like you can't leave him.  He is the most easy-going baby and truly just goes with the flow. SO happy all the time. He’s our peace in the storm, the sweetest soul, our go-with-the-flow, our little rainbow baby. We’re all basically obsessed with him. 

Happy 1st Birthday, Bodey Frank! you are so SO so loved.