tWeLvE!

Twelve whole months! Here's what Troop has been up to this past month. Walking is becoming quicker and easier. He's even pretty steady with shoes on his feet (a must for trick-or-treating)! He got a stomach flu and threw up for the first time this month--poor boy. It really freaked him out, especially because it kept happening over and over. He is 18 lbs 8 oz which puts him in the 15th percentile for weight (he's growing!) and 29 and a quarter inches long to put him in the 25th percentile for height. He's in the 50th percentile for head circumference:) Nice. His favorite words are "daddy" "uh oh" "yuck" and "arf arf" (barking). He has just started saying "hug" so I'm working on getting any amount of cuddle out of him that I can. The kid won't even let me snuggle him after he gets hurt or when he's tired. Here's to hoping that changes at some point. It's so fun to watch as he learns new things and figures things out. He understands how to get his toys to light up and make noise. I can tell that he understands bathtime routine and getting dressed as he gives me one arm, then the other. When I pull out socks, he holds out his feet. He's a pretty picky eater but when you give him something he likes, he shovels it in. He's started whole milk and I'm almost finished weaning him. He's made the switch to a big boy carseat! He talks constantly and wants to be friends with everybody. I'm starting to see some of my stubbornness in him (uh oh) so wish us luck. But really, he's so fun to be around and makes us laugh constantly. Love this little boy.

He loves finding little things to climb on.

This day I found him quietly playing by himself in his room. He's never really done that before.

Playing with his friend Paisley.

Patiently waiting for his dinner.

Playing with his cousin Tayson.

Since his birthday party was two days before his actual birthday, when the real day came around we were able to chill, have some fun, and play with all his new toys!

You can tell he just woke up from a nap. Cute face.

We went to the park with Monica, Ailee, and Maya.

1st Birthday PaRtY!

We had Trooper's 1st Birthday Party on Sunday. It turned out perfect and was so fun to have grandparents, aunties, uncles, and cousins there. A big thank you to everyone who came!

Happy Birthday Little Boy!

Trooper Brent,

Today you are ONE year old! I can't believe how fast time has gone. You are becoming more and more of a toddler everyday, yet I still see you as my tiny baby boy. You have made this past year the absolute best of my life. And I know your daddy feels the same way. Thank you for being such a perfect, easy, wonderful, and darn cute little guy. You made us a real family and we love you more than you will ever know.

All I have ever wanted was to be a mom. As I was finishing up college, I started to feel lost and incomplete because a career was not what I wanted next. And then I found out I was pregnant and I felt happy and blessed and content. I couldn't wait to meet you. Right before you were born, I got nervous and wondered how I could ever be the mom you would deserve. Then I held you in my arms and I felt peace. This is what I was meant to do; be your mom. And from the beginning it felt natural.You light up my every day. And I really cannot get over how cute you are.

I love spending every day together. I love that we're best buddies. I love how you walk to me with a big smile on your face. How you look for me when you're sad. How you hold your arms out to me so that I'll pick you up and hold you close. It makes me feel complete. And I love how you say "Daddy" constantly. You two have so much fun together.

Happy Birthday my little boy!

When we first met.

11.6.11

11.6.12

(Don't mind the big scratch on your cheek. Unbeknownst to your dad, you followed him outside and, despite all our efforts to teach you how to descend stairs safely, you bravely stepped down and ended up with a cement burn:(. Poor baby. But you handled it like a champ.)

Troop's 1st Halloween

 October 31, 2012

 

 

I decided about 30 minutes before trick-or-treating that Brent and I should dress up too. So we pulled out the easy go-to costumes.

Great Grandma and Grandpa Brady

Ailee, Trooper and Maya

Our pumpkins for the year.

Eleven

Eleven months! Within the past couple days Trooper has really started walking. He has figured out how to stand himself up without holding onto anything and then attempts to walk almost everywhere. If he falls down in the middle, he'll usually get up and try again, unless he's in a hurry (like to get into the open fridge) then he'll crawl. By Halloween he's gonna be the cutest little wobbly walker. I seriously can't wait. He's got five and a half teeth now with at least two more visibly on their way. His favorite words are "dad" "uh-oh" "yeah" and "Ailee." And he never misses an "amen" at the end of a prayer. He's finally signing "more" and "all done." He mimics  our sounds and tones of voice like a champ. He loves cuddling up with blankets and soft pillows when he's tired. When we get stern and try to teach him that something he's done is not okay, he gets a big smile on his face and laughs at us. And then it's impossible for us not to laugh. I don't know what I'm going to do about that. Little stinker. He likes grooving to music and watching Dancing With The Stars with me. He loves splashing in the tub and dipping his face in the water. People at the store tell me what a beautiful baby I have, that they've never seen a baby with so many expressions, and that he's such a ham. He totally plays it up for all his admirers. He's really starting to get into more and more stuff, so life is starting to get a little bit harder. But this cute little guy keeps me happy all day every day. Take a look at my handsome little man at eleven months old.