1 YEAR!!!!

So a couple of weeks ago, the miracle turned ONE!!!

A whole year has gone by already!!! I've not been sad, heartbroken, devastated, or loathing life for an entire year.  (I may have loathed graduate school every once and a bit, but that shouldn't count.)

It has been an absolutely glorious year.  It has been a tremendous year.  It has been the year of all years for BJ and me.  And this little dude...

How could anyone be sad when they get to have this in their life?  I mean you can tell from this picture, he's enjoying life with us at least a little bit.  Gosh, we love this kid!!!

I am just so thrilled to be the parent of a one year-old.  Maybe it's because I'm hopeful we will unfreeze some more of his kind one day, but I'm just so excited watching him master each new skill and cross each milestone.  He just soaks up so much stuff right now!!!

When he's not being totally adorkable, he's being totally sweet. He loves his people, and so far, everyone is his people.  He's still not too worried about the whole stranger anxiety thing, and seems like a pretty content little boy.  I'm totally biased, I realize, but he's rather charming for one.  Ladies, look out, here comes Matt-man!

He's become a much more proficient walker and prefers walking to crawling at this point, but hasn't figured out how to stand up w/out something to pull up on.  But once he does get up, he's off to the races. Just this week he's even trying to run a little bit...or maybe he's falling, it's hard to tell sometimes. He still has a pretty good inebriated penguin thing going on, but mostly because he's getting a little cocky.  Looking around, holding stuff, clapping for himself...you know, more important things than looking where he's going or minding where his center of gravity actually is.  

He loves to open and close cabinets, as well as turn a light on and off.  These are incredibly fun games!  He is trying to communicate with us more, but I have no clue what he's talking about most of the time, so I just guess.  My mother swears he says all sorts of words, but I'm just hearing 'ah'.  

For example...

Exhibit A.

Mom- "Look, he's saying 'dog'!".  Matt- "ah". Mom-"That's right, dog! You're so smart!"

Exhibit B

Mom- "Can you say off, Matt?"  Matt- "ah".  Mom- "Yes! That's so smart! You're just so smart!"

Exhibit C

Mom- "Matt, say OK." Matt- "Ah-uh-ah". Mom- "That's it. That's so good! You're just the smartest grandbaby."

  

So, anyway.  He's learning some words, but we're getting into a grunting and pointing phase.  Perhaps it's because I fail to understand his chatter so he has to speak down to me and use caveman talk. And so it begins... 

Peace, Love, and What a Journey It has Been!

Mary Katherine and Matt

Matt Facts

Height:  29"

Weight: 18 lbs 2 oz

Clothing size: 9 mos

Cuteness Factor:  11/10

Favorite Toy:  Fascinated with his train as it is self-propelled. And he's figured out buttons, so anything with a button is very interesting for a few minutes, at least. 

Favorite Food:  Birthday cake!!! He does seem to have a sweet tooth, but overall, is not that into any one food.  

Favorite Comfort Item:  Himself...he's not got any one thing that soothes him.

Nemesis of the moment:  Popcorn popper thing...I'm not sure what it did, but it has completely offended Matt, and makes him very angry...and I laugh, probably causing him to need years of therapy *sigh*

Skills: Oning-and-Offing a lamp, drunk walking, drinking milk out of a cup, throwing balls, laughing at himself, getting off of a bed w/out plunging head first or with assistance, hiding objects (like remotes) and re-enacting prohibition (you know...breaking liquor bottles).

Words:  Not many new ones (in my opinion). He seems pretty satisfied grunting to communicate his needs.  

Favorite thing he does:  Walks to me smiling and wraps his arms around my neck.  And my heart melts every.single.time.