One Year Old

To my favorite little man,
Happy Birthday! Jensen you are one year old today. I am excited that you are one. I'm a little sad that you aren't an infant anymore. I love who you are growing up to be. Yesterday we took you up to the fire station to get some one year portraits of you. My handsome boy. I could stare at photos of you all day. 

Weight: 25 lbs (90th percentile)
Height: 28 3/4 inches (25th percentile). When you combine weight with height that is one round little man.
Teeth: Still an uneven 7. When is lucky tooth 8 finally gonna show up?
Clothes: 12-18 months, some 18-24 months (usually shirts)
Shoes: You are ready for size 5 and hopefully getting some tomorrow
Diaper: Also size 5, your little baby hiney is quite round.

Biggest Accomplishment:
Taking your first steps! About 2 weeks ago you started taking about 3 steps at a time. You still usually only take a few and then sit down but you are the cutest old man when you walk.
Words:
Dada (your favorite word), Mama, Uh-oh, Bye bye (probably your second favorite), uh-huh (for yes) and Hi (occasionally). You also know how to sign for all done, more, milk, and we are working now on cup.

Naps:
Usually from 10-11am  and then 1:30-3pm.
Bedtime:
You are typically ready to nurse by 7:15pm and out by 7:30 pm. You wake up around 7:30 or 8 am. Most night you sleep through the night.
Nursing:
Oh, Jensen. You love milk. You still nurse 6-7 times a day, which kinda seems like a lot, but you love it.We are going to keep nursing for a while. I love holding you in my arms and getting that sweet time with you. One day you will stop and I will look back and it will seem like such a short time with you.
Meals:
3 meals and 2 snacks a day. You mostly eat what we eat just in tiny pieces. Recently I discovered the wonder of buying premade baby food just for when we are on the go. Wow, that is convenient. I don't regret making all your baby food but it's nice to have a grab and go option when we got some place that might not have food for you. Your favorite foods are cheerios, avocado, peas, grapes, strawberries, corn, zucchini, pasta, and yum-yums (baby crackers made from spinach and kale). We tried to think of any food you didn't like....and we came up blank.

You love to:
Throw a bouncy ball. Or a basketball. Or a soft football.
Take things apart and put them back together - stacking up, rings, etc.
Your baby fire truck and ambulance that go down a ramp.
Put little balls down a ramp or in a little toy that spits them back.

An interesting observation this month...I am pretty sure you are left handed. When you eat, you use your left hand more, especially for a spoon. When play you tend to favor your left hand. Hmm..Daddy says you can be a left handed pitcher and head straight for the big leagues. I'll leave that one up to you.

One thing that is special about you is that you are very content to play independently. When I'm busy cooking or picking up you are happy to crawl off to the playroom and entertain yourself. But as soon as I come over and sit by you, you love to crawl up and attack me with hugs and kisses. Your personality is so laid back and you are an easy baby...as long as you are well fed.

You enjoy splashing in the bath tub with Eva. Your banana toothbrush is a favorite for chewing on. You are getting the hang of drinking water from a sippy cup. You LOVE your blue blankie and sleep with it at night...or wrestle it any time you manage to pull it out from your crib. You knock down blocks and eat too much grass.

Finally, a stroll back through  your early days, starting with the first time I got to hold and snuggle you. You were only a few hours old and I wouldn't get to hold you again for 48 hours after this moment. I'm so glad we got that quiet time together. It makes me tear up just looking at it. You were tiny and warm, already fighting hard to breathe.

Snug as a bug in a rug...a bug that needed some extra tubes and oxygen. When I think back about your first days in the NICU it can be hard not to have regrets, but I really try to think about all the wonderful moments we got with you. Feeding you the first time. Holding your tiny hand. Smelling your tiny head. Celebrating each little milestone.

And who could forget the day you came home and met your best friend? You've been inseparable ever since. As long as she doesn't interfere with your milk or food.

 My littles one year later. They both changed a lot!

The birthday boy for his 12 month photo.

One year of Jensen, month by month. Jensen Bruce, we are so in love with you...I think we're gonna keep you :)