adios, ONE!

Oh, ONE, we are so over you. You and your baby ways. We're moving on to bigger and better things...to number TWO. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!! Two????? I hadn't given it much thought...until I ran across this photo:

Just look at that little baby! Baby. Not big boy. Not even little boy. Baby. Where did he go? Sadness depart, leave gladness in my heart.

So we're heading into the week stretch before M's birthday! Smooch is coming to town, so excitement is in the air! We've got a superstar guest list for the fiesta, including the M kids, Layne and Baby Mia, and an Elmo pinata (that's right, go ahead and beat the idol of your little heart with a big stick til hoards of sugared candies come crashing down on your head). Good times are a comin'!

M says goodbye to being one:Below are pics I took right before his first birthday. Soon we will retire his "1" shirt, and I will post his "2" photos!

New post & photos

New post and photos -- Dr.'s Appointment -- at Matthew's site.

ONE is FUN!

I'm LOVING one! First, we are on our way to saying "Buh-bye Bottles" and "Forget you, Formula!" Second, Matthew is facing forward in his car seat now and what a difference that makes! This busy boy is much happier being able to see where he is going. And, since I usually do a running commentary as we travel, it makes it easier to talk about what is going on..for example "Do you see all the cars and trucks we are passing because mama is driving fast?" Just kidding! And third, and most importantly, it is such great fun watching his little personality blossom! Like tonight we cooked dinner together (him on the floor) and it was fun to watch him follow my instructions (photos at Matthew's site).

shirt - too small, socks - too big, face - too messy
boy - too cute!

New post & photos

New posts & photos -- Birthday Party & More Party Photos -- at Matthew's site

This photo didn't quite make the cut for Matthew's site, but Smooch and I think it is so funny that I had to post it. When I opened a bag to look at the toys inside, Matthew hunched down so that he could see too...and Smooch caught it in this photo. Besides Matthew's posture and expression being funny, this picture shows that his negligent mama needs to buy the poor child some new clothes (notice the too-short sleeves and peek-a-boo belly!). Either he is growing too fast or my laundry skills need improving.

Perhaps being 1 makes the learning speed up even more because just since his birthday Matthew has started standing on his own more, holding his phone up to his ear (something he was not even interested in before), etc. Even his receptive language, while previously awesome, seems to have exploded as he responds to commands and questions. Last night he was feeding his plastic chicken with his spoon! Very cute!

On a SAD, SAD, SAD note, Smooch left this morning. We were totally bummed that we could not bribe her to blow off her last semester of college and her full-time job to stay here and play with us every day. You can read this with the gushing of a big sister: It was sooooo wonderful to have Stefanie here! Even little Mr. Unsociable absolutely adored Smooch. She was the biggest help...especially when Scott woke up very sick on Matthew's birthday. But besides her assistance with absolutely everything, it was just great fun to stay up late giggling every night!