Our sweet little man turned ONE this week. I find this impossible to wrap my head around and still feel like I am processing it through a fog. But there was a party, he has a one-year check-up scheduled at the pediatrician, everyone else says it's true. It is probably so.
Here are a few things we have learned about Declan in our first amazing year with him:
He lives on Soul Train: the kid will dance to the dishwasher, to his little friend Ashley banging two toys together, to actual music...he assumes that pretty much any two sounds in a row count as a steady beat & moves himself accordingly.
He adores big sis: Duh. Don't all younger siblings adore their elder ones? (I'm looking at you, Toby, Tom, Anna...)
He likes to be near the action: he doesn't necessarily need to be INVOLVED in the action, but he needs to be near it. We noticed this when we were still in the hospital after he was born and in the first days after we brought him home. If everyone left the room, even if he was fast asleep, he began to stir and become disgruntled. As soon as the ambient noise returned, he settled down. Now, he is happy to play with a toy in a room by himself, as long as he can hear everyone nearby. He just seems to be comforted by companionship, which I think is pretty sweet.
He seems to have already developed a sense of humor. He enjoys making people laugh and LOVES to laugh with you. If you think something's funny, then it's funny enough for him. Whether it's honking your nose or banging on his high chair, he has a great time watching you enjoy life.
He gives GREAT hugs. This is one of my favorite things these days. Especially if you enter a room for the first time in awhile--or when Daddy gets home from work--he sort of starts to giggle, reaches out both hands, looks like he's going for your eyes, and then wraps his chubby loving arms around your neck and squeezes. And doesn't let go until it seems like it's time. We have been reveling in this innocent and genuine outpouring of love.
He's fairly adaptable: if he goes down late for nap or bed, or is woken up early, he is usually not a total disaster. He seems to be able to roll with changes in routine fairly easily.
He enjoys the thrill of the chase: there is no squeal like the one Declan lets loose as he 'escapes' the room you are in and takes off down the hallway. He laughs a big belly laugh when you say, "I'm gonna get you Declan!" and giggles all the more when you catch him.
A few other recent Declan facts:
Favorite foods: bananas, avocados, pizza
Favorite books: What Shall We Do with the Boo-Hoo Baby (Cressida Cowell), Moo, Baa, La La La (Sandra Boynton), and Fingers and Toes (Parragon Books).
Favorite toys: singing mailbox, singing/jumping monkey (really, anything that plays music for him is his favorite), and he is just starting to get into things that he can roll around, especially balls and cars.
And here is a link to a video of his first year:
http://youtu.be/zsmMbSWDnS4
Happy birthday, Declan! We love you more than words can express.
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