Well it's official! Our boy is ONE! I can't even believe it! The year has totally flown by. Seems just like it was yesterday when we brought him home. I remember how scared I was because the idea of taking care of this tiny human and being responsible for him was a daunting thought. And yes, the first couple of weeks were the absolute hardest, but after a few weeks went by, I was feeling better about it. And looking into this beautiful face when he smiled at me - I was smitten! And we became the best of pals this year! We have had a year full of many firsts, days at the park, singing, dancing, napping, doctor visits, and lots of snuggles!
I love this boy more and more each day. Even though there are days where all I want is a nap, I find that when he isn't with me, I miss him. He has a smile that lights up any room. He is full of so much life and curiosity. We prayed that our boy would be curious and love life....and boy did God deliver! This boy loves to explore. He loves to get into everything. He quite literally keeps us on our toes!
Caleb has been walking pretty steadily since 11 months and continues to climb into and around things. He is becoming more and more independent and doesn't always want to hold our hands because he wants to do it on his own. He has also been playing "ball" with us for the past few weeks. He likes to throw the ball to us and we throw it back! I am soo proud of him. I mean, how did he learn so much in a short year? It's amazing! We look forward to seeing what more he learns this year!
Caleb's Birthday Party
Caleb's birthday party was the day after his birthday, and it was a success. It was a Penguin themed birthday party, and I even made the cake. I was so nervous about making it because I had the best mom in the world who made amazing cakes, and I wanted Caleb to have that in me too. But it turned out great!
Birthday boy in his birthday outfit!
The Birthday cake
I made a fun board of photos and his baby stats on it. I weighed Caleb on our scale (and he was actually detected), and he weighed 21 pounds. I also attempted to get his height (though he was quite squirmy), and he is around 29 inches (might be more as he was moving around a ton). It was fun putting this board together as it really took me back through the last year. I truly have a handsome boy! And despite being quite biased, I would even say he is the cutest!
Caleb had many special guests come to his party, but the best surprise was when we heard the doorbell, and there at the door was his Aunt Jen and Uncle Wes!! I quite literally squealed with excitement! Jen had told us just the day before on Skype that they couldn't make the trip, but were so sad about it. So that's why we Skyped with her on his birthday. It was a great call and Caleb would go play and then come back and talk to her. But then the next day, they were there! My parents knew and kept this fun secret from us! :) It was the best surprise! I was so touched that they thought it was so important to be there! And honestly, we see them once or twice a year, so this was just the best thing ever! But we were honored to have many other special people there who are family to us!
Aunt Jen and Uncle Wes
Bunch of family and friends
The Food: The food were pinwheel sandwiches, penguin shaped cheese crackers (mostly for Caleb), delicious crackers and cheese dips, fruit and yogurt dip, penguin shaped pasta salad, and blue raspberry cupcakes and Funfetti cupcakes. Caleb was the only one that got a whole cake to himself! hehehe!
Pinwheel sandwiches
Penguin cheese crackers
Crackers with vegetable cheese dip and spinach artichoke cheese dip
Fruit, penguin shaped pasta salad, and Blue Ice punch
Blue Raspberry and Funfetti cupcakes
Caleb's Birthday Cake: I put a candle on his cake and we all sang to him! I gotta say, I even had a tear in my eye when I heard everyone singing to him. That was just special! So I tried to show Caleb how to blow out a candle and he watched me. Then it was time to try the cake. He wasn't sure about it. I think he liked the taste, but it was quite overwhelming to him because he doesn't eat sugar normally. In the end, he was bored and didn't care about eating it. He wanted to play! He still got quite messy though. His arm kept getting mushed into the icing! LOL!
So then we opened presents, and boy did he make out like a bandit! He got a corn popper, a swimming pool and swim trunks, cool John Deer tractor, a car, a dump truck, a push toy with a cute lion face that makes music as he pushes it, books, clothes, a fun stackable hamburger that spins, a beautiful wooden toy turtle, a height chart, and a game where he pushes balls into a hole that goes through a maze. Lots of fun for this boy!
"Nothing Run Like a Deere" - says the John Deere Tractor
Helping Daddy put together a toy
Playing with his corn popper!
But honestly, the best part was just the love that was shared with this boy as we celebrated him. It was so special that he was surrounded with many people that love him!! So thank you to those that were able to come and to those that live far away and couldn't be here, thank you for sending love to him in your messages.
It's been an amazing first year, and we are looking forward to seeing him grow and learn even more! I leave you with this cute one year old's face!
My heart!
