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. 

Happy Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy 11 mos...

Yes, I'm so incredibly late with this post, but I don't regret it.  I spent most of 2 weeks w/out using technology and it was glorious!!!

Matt sleeping on Uncle Chris.

Matthew, my little man is shedding the last of his infanthood quickly.  He turns 1 in a week!!!! But his 12th month has been full of fun. He's gone from shuffling with encouragement between two parents to walking 50% of the time.  It's adorable.  Well, he looks inebriated... He has his arms over his head half of the time and gets stuck on one foot until he can get his center of gravity under control...I'm loving every single second of it!!!

He's still a totally cute little goober.  His communication skills are just exploding.  I have full conversations with him, I just don't know what language he's speaking to me in.  He just babbles away, changes his inflection and tone, nods his head enthusiastically and looks at me like I'm an idiot if I don't respond.  So much for boys not talking.  He's up to about 6 words...Mama, Dada, Meow, Muh-muh, Pa-pa, and his all-time favorite- Uh-OH.  Uh-oh means mischief is about to be made, by the way, not that a mistake happened.  This is probably a good thing because at least he tells on himself, but I'm not sure I like where the smirk and gleam in his eye as he intentionally 'uh-uh-uh-ohs' is going.

Our Christmas was great.  We got to spend some time with both sides of the family.  Matt was mostly underwhelmed, but was a good sport.  I thought he'd be more into the tearing of paper, and boxes, but mostly he just wanted to play with his old toys.  He'll get it one day...

He did get his first ear infection, but handled it like a champ, really. He's been sick every month and for every major holiday since September.  He seems to handle it pretty well, but has a hard time at night.  I will say he's an excellent sport at taking medicine.

I honestly can't believe he's not a baby.  I wanted a baby for sooo long! I had one, and now I don't! He's got some shimmers of two-ness coming through.  He started having tantrums in which he lays down and beats his head on the floor.  You know...that's my reaction when there is a wall where I want there to be a door, too.  But really? Where do they even learn that? BJ and I are full of character flaws, but neither one of us lays down and beats our head on the floor when we are angry or frustrated...and honestly, it's so hard to not laugh...I'm the worst mother...

Mommy's little monster!!

11 month Matt Stats

Weight: 17 lbs 8oz

Height:  2 foot something

Teeth:  5!!! I'm not sure what pattern they are coming in, but we have some.  We're also pretty sure we need to start saving for braces, immediately...

Favorite Toy:  Sit to Stand Walker

Favorite Food:  Macaroni & Cheese...the only thing I've seen him eat where he actually cared if it got in his mouth!

Favorite Comfort Item: Himself!

Word of the Month: Uh-oh!

Favorite Activity:  Growling...which I'm pretty sure he learned from my parent's golden doodle...Thanks, Marvin...

Least Favorite Activity:  Putting on clothes and having diaper changed.  This is a huge waste of time according to Matt.  Nobody needs that...

New Tricks:  Drunk walking, taking arms out of sleeves (which is no big deal in a t-shirt, but when you're in a onesie, it can be problematic), taking shoes and socks off,  mimicking elevator dings and random electronic equipment chirps.

Future Career: Sound-effects artist who lives in our basement well into his 40s. 

Peace, Love & Grrrrr!

Mary Katherine & Matt