You are officially a one year old now! It's hard to believe that one year ago we were in the hospital hoping that we could take you home the next day. You've changed so much and it feels like the last year has gone by so quickly. Everyday you amaze me with the things that you do. You are becoming so loving and it melts my heart. Here are some things about you now...
-You hug me all the time. Sometimes when you are in the shopping cart, you lean forward and hug me. If I'm sitting on the floor, you always come hug me. I love it. I mean, I ABSOLUTELY love it! It thrills me to death that you love me so much!
-You are becoming more attached to your blanket. In the morning when I get you out of your crib, you always grab your blanket first. I always tell you to say bye bye to blanket and you throw it down. About a week ago, you started sneaking back in your room and reaching your arm through your crib to get your blanket back out. You will try from all three sides to find a way to reach it. You like to hug it and carry it around. I can usually get you to put your blanket back, but if your door is open you go back in and get it.
-You have learned to open the toilet lid. Now we have to keep all the bathroom doors shut because otherwise you lift the lid and touch the inside of the toilet. This makes Mama gag, so please stop!
-When you are mad you stomp your little feet and kind of look like you are marching backwards. I have to make sure you don't have a tantrum somewhere that you are going to trip over something behind you.
-Sometimes when you are mad, you also throw yourself backwards and scream. I'm not loving these tantrums at all.
-You bring me a book to read and are learning how to turn around and put yourself in my lap. You just love to read. I'd say Peekaboo Kisses is still your favorite. You like to pet the animals and you always kiss yourself in the mirror at the end. You've read it so much in this first year that the binding has broke and Daddy needs to tape it back together!
-Although you babble lots of words including Mama and Dada, your first official word was Dog. You had said it when looking at Bevo, but I knew you really understood what it was when we were at Grandma and Grandpa's and you saw Minnie and said Dog. When you say dog, it sounds like Da, Ga, or God. I'm really hoping you figure out soon that I'm Mama. I don't like ranking behind the dog!
-Today you said No No dog to Bevo. We'll see if you repeat this or if it was just a coincidence. We say no no to Bevo because he barks too much!
-You are starting to get really good at playing independently. You love your new birthday toys and will play with them for about 10 minutes at a time. You especially enjoy your grill and like Mommy and Daddy to pretend to eat a hot dog that you make. After awhile though you get frustrated with your toys and throw one of your above mentioned tantrums.
-You have started getting in the trash. This has led to your first few times in time out. You have knocked the kitchen trash over a few times now.
-You laugh all the time. So many things are funny to you. One of the things that makes you laugh the most is when I chase you. Your favorite game is when I chase you around the bar and you sneak up behind me and scare me!
-Mama is definitely your favorite person and you like me to hold you over anyone else. It hurts Daddy's feelings and you need to go to him too sometimes!
-When you like your food, you say "Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!" Daddy taught you that.
-You have started clapping. Grandma taught you "If you're Happy and you Know it." You love that song now.
-Diaper changes and getting you dressed are your most hated things in the world. You refuse to sit still and roll over, scream, and cry.
-Wait, I remembered the thing you hate more, your carseat! You HATE getting in your carseat. I think it's because of the side impact wings by your head and I wish I'd gotten a carseat without them.
-When you are throwing a fit in the car, we play Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to calm you down.
-You love crackers and would eat them for every meal if we let you.
-You love to drink milk and sometimes cry when your sippy cup is all gone.
-You can drink out of a straw now and you think that is pretty fun. I can see that you are proud after each sip.
-You have mastered turning off the lightswitch when we leave a room. You get a huge smile when I say thank you.
-You and Daddy wrestle all the time. He does a tombstone pile driver on you and you laugh.
-You love to be outside and point at pretty things like trees or flowers. You don't mind walking barefoot outside.
-You love to sit in your baby float in the pool and have sat in it for like 30 minutes at a time. As long as there is something for you to look at, like Daddy jumping in off the side, you are content.
-You love dogs. You love to pet Bevo and Minnie. You like to follow Bevo around his room. Bevo tolerates you, but he isn't really a fan of you petting him. I think it's because you like to touch his tail.
-You like to pick up Bevo's toys, which is gross. You also like to lay on Bevo's bed, which is even more gross!
-You still like taking baths, but after I rinse your hair and you get water in your face, you stand up and want to get out.
-You are wearing size 12 month clothes and I bought all of your Disney clothes in a size 18 months. I made you try them on today, which you didn't really like, and they were all too big! Sorry about making you look sloppy on our trip! I thought you'd be bigger by the time our trip came up!
-When we told the doctor at your appointment yesterday that you were off the bottle, she was very impressed. You are such a big boy!
Antonio, you have brought so much joy to our lives and we are thankful that we have such a wonderful son! We love you so much! Happy 1st Birthday!
Love,
Mommy
