YOU ARE ONE!

Then...

Now...

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY PERRY!
Wow, I still can hardly believe that you are one year old! Maybe that reality will set in after your parties (yes, parties) this weekend. You don't realize it yet but this is a BIG deal! Your first birthday celebration is a culmination of hope and prayer that began the moment we realized I was pregnant, through the battle to keep you safe through pregnancy, and even afterward. You are truly a blessing, not only because you bring us immeasurable joy, but because we also see God's love for us every time we look at you.
So, what have you been up to this past month? Well, I think the better question would be "what have you NOT been up to?" I'm amazed at all that you can do and how you understand so much. It wouldn't be possible to sum up your entire month in a blog post, but I wanted to share some of the things that come to mind.You are following some simple commands and frequently making some of your own! Even though you can be difficult at times, I mostly find myself smiling and giggling as I just watch and interact with you. We love seeing you explore, learn, and develop. You are walking both behind push toys and while holding our hands, but you haven't stepped out on your own yet. Your favorite thing to say is "uh-oh" and you make the same high pitch "ah ah ah" noise when you hear a dog, bird, or train. You also enjoy listening to the neighbors' dogs bark while you crawl in and out of the back door.  You like collecting all your toys and shoving them under the couch; I don't know where that idea came from but I'm glad to know you could survive as a hunter-gatherer if left out in the wild. You love to play peek-a-boo, "talk" on the phone, and hand things to us. This month, you learned to sign "more" and figured out how to drink from a sippy cup. We just started the gradual process of weaning you from breastfeeding; I'm not sure if it's going to be harder for you or me. This month also brought a couple of big firsts--your first time to spend the night out and your first haircut! You stayed the night down the street at Mae Mae's house and did just fine. At your Doctor appointment on 11/3/10, you weighed 23lb4oz and were 29 3/4 in long. You are the most fun person we know and we have loved every minute of the last year with you...well, with the exception of the sleepless nights :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BOY!