FIRST BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday to You! You're ONE today!

Wow, so many changes in the past month. The biggest one is me going back to teaching, and you going to daycare and Jenn's. I was so worried about it, so unsure about leaving you. It has been hard, but it is much easier and better than I expected. You cry every time I leave you -- you get really upset and I feel so bad. But everyone says that you do better right away, and you play and eat and nap. And you know what's funny? You seem happier in general when we're at home. Before, when I was home with you all day, you would have really fussy periods, and would try to get into everything, and get mad when you couldn't. I think you got bored! You wanted to do something interesting. Now, when we get home at around 2pm, you are so happy all afternoon and evening. You're really a joy to be around.

I get you ready for "school" as I call it, and take you there around 8am. Then I go to school and teach and plan, and get you at about 2. You go to Jenn's on Tuesday and Thursday. Thursday Dad brings you and I pick you up around 11, that's my short day. I think the schedule is working out well. I am soooo busy at school, and it is weird not having all the time I want to plan and get things done, so that is an adjustment. Overall I am much less organized and prepared, and my yearbook class is ... well... hard.

But, back to you. Let's see... you clap now when we ask you to, and when we clap ourselves. You have learned how to climb up on everything from Caleb. You climb up on the coffee table, go "UUUNNNN!!!" and clap for yourself. You then try to climb on the couch and all around. Luckily, you've learned how to get off things by going down backwards, which is a big step. :)

You don't say any words yet, which is interesting. I wonder if you'll be a late talker. I was looking at my baby book and saw a list of 20 words that I said at age one. But then I guess I was an early talker. I wonder when you'll start. Soon, I bet. You do babble long "sentences" of baby talk that sound like a foreign language.

You're not really even close to going to bed and sleeping until morning by yourself, but I don't mind too much. You go to sleep about 8, get up about 7, but wake up several times briefly in between. Halfway through the night you usually wake up and Dad brings you in bed with us, then you might wake once or twice more before morning, nursing shortly each time. I actually love having that time with you, especially now that I'm working. I know you'll sleep all night when you're ready, even if it's at 2 or 3.

You have four molars poking out a tiny bit.

What else? You love daddy, you love it when he comes home, and will pad over to the door with a big smile. It's so cute. You love to go outside, and will dash for the door when it's open. You eat pretty good, but it's off and on. You love spaghetti noodles, cheese, any kind of meat, grapes, watermelon, cereal, milk, crackers...

Well, I'm going to try to get some sleep now.... zzzzzzz... goodnight my sweet baby...