I have a confession honey. I stink at blogging. Yep, I thought I could be good about it and keep it up once a week but I guess I am better at capturing your milestones through pictures and posting them easily through social media with a small caption. But, there is something I am great at and that's snapping as many photos of you as possible. I have memory cards stacked, cell phone memory of just you and the tablet has tons as well as video. So, this is going to be one BIG post, we have lots to look back on. The last post was while in Maui and what a great trip that was! You already know how awesome you were on the plane ride
so I can skip that but Maui, that's where I think your love of the ocean, or anything water, was born. You rode your first small wave on a boogie board!
Daddy was so proud and I was scared...what's new huh! But after I saw you were ok, I was proud. You rode a good amount on that board until you wiped out on shore, did a few tumbles and came to. You only cried for a bit...
but you were back at it once again!! Such a trooper! Here is a snapshot of where I think your "swimming" all began..
well get into that later though. 2 days after we returned from Maui, you decided that would be a perfect time to start walking! You woke up one Saturday morning, at 10 1/2 months old and just WALKED! I couldn't believe it and nobody but you and I were home to witness! Of course every time I tried to take a picture or video you would sit there but I made sure and texted everyone (Daddy was first) I knew and let my facebook people know as well! I was so excited, I think I may have screamed when I saw you that first time.
Easter came soon after. Your first Easter. I didn't want to get an Easter basket and fill it with things you wouldn't use or couldn't, things like candy (you kids are lucky if you get that any other day) and toys you wouldn't bother with. So...I came up with a brilliant idea and we made you a sand toy basket and I think you LOVED it....
Can't forget about your first picture with the Easter bunny!
Now, your 1st birthday. What a bittersweet day that was. I was so sad to see you growing so fast yet so grateful that you were and are. When you hear parents say,"Enjoy it because time goes by too fast", I can't tell you how true those words are. I felt like, and sometimes still feel like, you were born just yesterday. Yet, there we were, celebrating your 1st birthday, Dr. Suess themed and all. I spent lots of time making decorations as well as coming up with ideas that went with our theme. Think I did a pretty good job?
We had all your baby friends there and our family and friends as well help celebrate this special day. We had the grassy area by the pool filled with toys you little ones liked and your fav of course, the baby pool filled with plastic balls! You were fully dressed, in your themed shirt just ready to jump in...
so I ran to get your trunks and I hear...Stephanie he's already in, clothes and all!
You loved it. Is there anything you don't love? Maybe, cake? No, you love cake! Actually, your 1st birthday is when you had your first taste of cake (carrot), or anything sweet for that matter.
I'm sure you could of eaten the whole thing.
This is your 1yr old picture we had taken, you are so handsome love. You get that from Daddy.
I think here is where I'll mention swimming. You love swimming. We started taking you to the pool around 9 months I believe, only a few times though. Maui I think was where we first saw your love of water. I think that's where it all started. Soon after your first birthday is when we saw you actually kicking your arms and legs and "swimming". Of course we were holding onto you but you were doing it so perfectly on your tummy. Eventually, I had to buy you a body suit with a float around the chest and back because you hated the float ring. After you put that body suit on, we were lucky if you let us touch you while in the water. You actually swim around with your suit on by yourself! You were and are so independent in the water it scares me.
You have already learned how to grab onto the sides once you reach them as well. Everyone is always asking us if you've had swimming lessons and we proudly say,"Nope, just loves the water!" I have a video of you swimming, remind me to show it to you one day.
Another thing you love is corn on the cob. During 4th of July weekend I think that was all you wanted. Ears and ears of corn! These pictures are both from that weekend...
And yes, you ate it like that every time, as if you were attacking it, well you actually were! I have to say, you have the best appetite and the fact that you love and eat your veggies (except for peas) makes me so happy! I still try to give you peas every once in awhile but so far its no thank you, and that's ok. Your favorite veggies are broccoli and spinach! And your other favorite food is cheese! I'm sure you would eat cheese all day, every day if you could.
Now here, this is something you learned and ended up loving to do. Climb on the couch. You were soooo proud of yourself the first time you did it and luckily I had my camera handy to capture that moment...
Look at how proud you were! You were screaming in this picture, can't you tell?! After a few bad spills though we had to keep you off of the couch and you did not like that one bit. At first, and for awhile, you threw fits when we would say no or take you down but now you have learned and when asked to get off you do, and when you don't we take you off and you no longer throw fits. You still love climbing on the couch though. There was a spot in the corner where you would climb on and the cushions were always stained because you stuffed your face in the cushions as you tried to pull yourself up. My poor couch!
Oh, one of my favorites, you have experienced camping! We went on a family trip to McGrath Beach in Ventura to camp. We took Grandpa Paul's VW Bus (the one they used when Daddy was little) and drove down to the campsite. I have to say I was hesitant at first, I've never camped with a baby and I wasn't sure what to expect. You did prove me wrong in any negative thinking I had though. I think you could live out in the woods, your an original Beyr Grills. If you don't know who that is, just ask :) Anyway, we brought the hammock along with us and this was your favorite spot..
You begged for more. Really you did, using sign language of course.
You loved being outdoors, being able to walk to the beach and sort of walk around within our campsite wherever you wanted. Like I said before, you are so independent! We definetly had a blast camping together for the first time!
Just a week after camping we took you to experience your first Ventura County Fair. There was so much going on, so much to look at. I'm sure you didn't know what to think.
But you did love all of the lights and sounds!
Phewww, I think I've finally caught up from the last 5 months! I will try to do better at this because this is really something I want you to have. I want you to be able to look back on these small things because the small things are what really matters in life my love. I think I'll end with a picture, of you and your best friend Cash. Yes, you do have a best friend (you've known him since birth) except he's more like family....
