Well, as I mentioned in my last post...
Our little boy is one.
.
.
.
........
Say whaaaaaaat?
haha, it's true. I can't believe that a year ago from this very birthday, I was making toast in Norry and Barbara's kitchen when my water broke.
Not that I was sure it was my water breaking at the time....but, still...
a YEAR ago.
People say time flies, but I don't think I've ever really related or understood that statement until the day I realized I was the mother of a one year old.
We decorated a little for Anthon's birthday. Don't be fooled by the balloons on the wall though, they only lasted there about five minutes after Anthon had woken up.
Actually, he woke up and could see the balloons from his bed. Typically, he will lift up his blanket in front of him, bink still in, for me to pick him up. That morning, one look at those balloons and it was like he didn't even remember there WAS such a thing as a blanket...haha. If that story doesn't do his excitement about the balloons justice, then I think it's safe to say the following picture does...
To say he's a fan of balloons would be a gross understatement..
This picture was right after he woke up, in his very matchy pajamas ;)
With how much I share my food with Anthon, there was no way he could it to his first birthday without having some sugary/non-healthy food tastes along the way. However, his birthday cupcakes were the first time we just let him go nuts on sugar.
I think he had three mini cupcakes..
These highchair pictures absolutely kill me.
Before bed, we opened presents. I am blown away by the thoughtfulness of family in sending gifts for Anthon's birthday. People are SO sweet and it meant the world to us that they remembered Anthon's first birthday.
I like this next picture because it makes him looks like a baby again,
especially after how old he looks in the few pictures above.
Funny that it was taken just a bathtime after the highchair pictures, right?
Anywho...it was a wonderful first birthday. Full of hanging out, playing with balloons, and eating cupcakes.
The only downside was birthday night, which lacked in sleep because of what I suspect was the aftermath of sugary/dairy-ridden cupcakes on Anthon's tummy :(
That being said, something magical happened on Anthon's birthday. . .
Since about four months of age, Anthon never really sleeps in my arms; I don't know if it has most to do with him being a do-er and go-er, and/or partly because I've typically put him down while he's still awake. But, whenever I try to rock or cuddle little man the last 8 months, he typically whips himself around, trying to get upright, trying to see all around, or trying to play with me.
I think he figures--if I'm awake and with mom, it's party time.
However, he was crying on the night of his birthday, so I went in to comfort him.
I put his blanket on my shoulder and held him upright. This usually doesn't last long before I put him back in his crib and walk out of the room.
But, this time, he was so quiet! He slid down to where his head was on my right arm and was just quietly watching me and laying there.
I was in SHOCK. And, not about to take this moment for granted.
So, I walked and rocked (standing) back and forth with him--every so often nearing the window's light to see if he was still awake. For about ten minutes, he just lay there calmly and quietly, looking up. (Again, SO unheard of).
His breathing slowed and body relaxed, helping me to realize he had fallen asleep.
Again, I wasn't about to take this moment for granted. So, I continued to sway with him, all the while watching his face. With not having rocked much the last eight months, I hadn't built up much muscle in my baby swaying arms--that being said, I wasn't about to lay him in that crib when given an opportunity like this. Accordingly, I sat down in our swivel chair in his bedroom, brought up my left leg to help prop him up, and just continued to watch him sleep.
Again, I can't express how uncharacteristic this whole experience with Anthon was. It was his birthday gift to me. One of the most magical moments I've had with him yet--just when I think he's a grown-up one-year-old and my phone baby updates start calling him a 'Toddler'... Anthon lets me rock him to sleep.
What a tender mercy from the Lord.
So, I sat watching him, thinking back to the day I had him, the first time I held him, and the year we've shared with him
I can't think of a more magical way to have ended his birthday.
. . .
You know, it would be far more dramatic, poetic, and magical if I ended the post here, on that incredible note.
But, seeing as I didn't forsee me sharing that story, I have already uploaded about 30 other pictures to this post...
30 pictures that would take a considerable amount of time to re-locate and re-upload to another post. .
So, just pretend me continuing this post with an update of our next month is just as dramatic, poetic, and magical. ...
Anthon's 1 year appointment! Little man has thinned out a little, with his sweet head still topping the charts. Again, SO happy my hubbykins can sneak away from work to be at these appointments with us. This particular visit included four shots (tear). Matthew is really good at distracting Anthon for these kinds of visits.
Height: 29.5 (41%)
Weight: 20 lbs 10 oz (20%)
Head: 49 cm (97%)
We got to go to Jeremy and Krystal's for Thanksgiving.
We LOVED it and it was so fun seeing Anthon interact with Carly and Emma. I think my favorite part was just staying up and chatting with Jeremy and Krystal.
We split the 16.5 hour drive into two days, which was such a good decision. We stayed in Cleveland in between. Andddd....you'll never guess who, when we were 30 minutes outside of Cleveland, called me to tell me he was in Cleveland too!
Tyler happened to have an interview there that weekend--what are the chances?!
Anywho...here are a few pictures from the trip..
Whenever Anthon got fussy, this was one thing that would, without fail, cheer him up--dad's hand!
Jeremy putting up his TV on its wall mount. I think Matthew helped a little bit ;)
One of Anthon's new developments is answering phones and putting them up to his heard. He tilts his head down towards his shoulder and it's adorable.
Anthon was a champion road-tripper going both ways. We're (obviously) parked for the first picture below. But, from napping in the car to playing at stops, he did SO great.
Dad won him not one, but TWO rubber duckies along the way. I don't think I've ever seen anyone win anything from one of these machines.... leave it to Matthew! Needless to say, he made Anthon's day.
Krystal took some family pictures for us; I especially LOVE some she snapped of Anthon. I already posted a handful of these, but here are two more..
One of all of us..
Andddd...one of him swinging with Miss Carly :) Isn't she adorable?
After returning to New York, we had some time to prepare for Christmas :) The rocket below is definitely one of Anthon's favorites. It resided in our closet until late Christmas Eve.
Still a lover of boxes. Also, this month he learned how to put things away. He puts toys/items in a box/container, we clap like he's just saved the world. Which, he has, hasn't he, really? :)
He had been putting bath toys away, and then we came back out one day and he put the TV remote into this Amazon box. He looked up and around for me, silently clapping as if to say, 'okay mom... just put this awayyyy...'
Cue the clapping!
Don't worry--I didn't disappoint ;)
Our tree, pre skirt and ornaments..
Can you believe I had a baby that couldn't even lift his head last Christmas when I laid him down by the tree?
Diapers in the bathtub...
What we resort to in order to avoid cleaning poop out of the tub....
Helping mom with laundry...
He actually does help--I'll put wet clothes onto the door and he pushes them inside the dryer :)
anddd, we still love walks, when it's warm enough to
Moving along..
Some people say you're grown up when you graduate high school, some say it's when you go on a mission, get married, have a baby, get your own place. I submit, that you are not truly grown up, until you leave your baby with his/her first baby sitter that's a non-relative.
Congratulate us, world--it happened! My parents got us tickets to the musical Matilda. We had some delicious dinner (on the go), and had a blast having a date night for the first time in a while. I don't think Matthew realized how much I like musicals.... Going to them is a kick in the butt to any budget...so it may have been a wake-up call. Lucky for us, this time was a generous gift from my fabulous parents :)
Speaking of fabulous parents, check out the Christmas bibs Darla made for us! While you're at it, feel free to check out Anthon and Matthew's adorable expressions in these pictures. These bibs are GENIUS, as they come with turtle neck tops! They are both for Anthon...just one was big enough for Matthew to try on for a cute picture :)
New Anthon developments this month were:
Sharing Food
Crawling to his room for his blanket when he's tired
Pointing to a dog in a book and then grabbing his dog stuffed animal
More wobbly steps--seen more and more often :)
Saying 'MOM!'
Favorite things:
Mandarin Oranges (Still)
Spiral Spaghetti (Still)
Dog Stuffed Animal
Blanket
Pooping in the bathtub
Baths
Boxes
