Today you officially became a walker. You took 3 unassisted steps from the coffee table to the couch where I was sitting. Throughout the afternoon, you took a few more steps here and there all on your own so, I'm thinking, it'll be a matter of a day or two before it really clicks and you are walking all over the place.
You turned a year old a week ago. It's amazing how fast this past year seems to have gone. I think it went by faster than your sister's first year went. I guess that's because life with two children is just way more chaotic and you have to make more of a committed effort to not let life's distractions take over from treasuring all the wonderful moments of raising my children. Link, you are proving to be a real "mama's boy". Everyday you make me feel so needed and loved. Like I'm literally the only one on this planet that can make you happy. We've tried to give you "lovey's" that are soft and cuddly, stuffed animals and pacifiers. No matter how often they've been repeatedly offered, when you really need to be comforted, nursing is the only thing that works. You have a very easy smile that charms everyone. There isn't a person anywhere that's met you and didn't become instantly smitten. With your easy smile and open love comes easy hurt with it. Like your Mom, you are overly sensitive with just about everything. It makes you nuts to be uncomfortable in any way. If you bump your head you'll give a look that someone would think you've nearly knocked your head clear off your neck. I can barely touch you, and you'll giggle with the most intense belly laugh because you are crazy ticklish all over. You are very easily startled which can make you a really light sleeper. With your very blond hair and fair skin, I need to be extra careful with you outside in the sun. You're skin is pretty sensitive. You'll turn red just from holding you or when I clean your face after you eat.
When you were born, you were just shy of 9lbs. At your 2 month well child check you were literally off the growth chart where you stayed for both height and weight until your 9 month appointment. You've just had your 12 month check this week and you are now on the chart! Since becoming mobile, you started crawling at 8 months, your height is now closer to average and you are at 95th percentile for weight. So far, you've closely followed your Cousin Duncan's footsteps. Your baby pictures look practically identical at times, you both were very chubby babies, both of you are blond, blue eyed with fair skin. Also, both of your are "mama's boys" and are crazy sweet and sensitive. I think you'll be kindred spirits forever and share a close bond.
You got your first teeth, yes I said "teeth" since the first 2 came in at the same time, at 7 months old. 5 more quickly followed and you've stayed happy with those 7 for quite some time now. Not that you've needed them. Nursing is all you've wanted. Baby food has never been something you've been willing to eat. It didn't matter what kind it was, if it's pureed, you gagged. Actually, you've gagged on pretty much everything until recently. Now, you're happy to eat all kinds of table foods. Your pre-requisites are that it must be something you can pick up and put in your mouth yourself. You're willing to try almost anything. What's absolutely not allowed, is for anyone to try and feed you with a spoon. It doesn't matter if it's baby food, ice cream or a cheerio, you gag every time a spoon gets to your lips. However, you are thrilled to play with a spoon as long as there isn't any food involved with it. You are the first child I've ever known to gag on ice cream. I'm certain you'll grow out of that soon enough ;o) You are still mostly nourished by breastfeeding, as your idea of eating solids is to put it in your mouth, chew and play with it a bit, cough it up in case it gets too close to the back of your throat and then spit it all out. Since you also refuse to wear a bib, your wardrobe has taken quite a few hits. You'll go through way more outfits in a day then your sister ever did. That's okay though, it gives me a chance to have you wear all your clothes a lot which your sister has outfits that I know she never got to wear.
Speaking of differences between you and Gwendolyn. Gwen is a fish and has always loved the water. Until about a week ago, you were certain being submerged in any kind of water, is the same as being in a vat of acid. The only way to keep you calm in a pool, is if I hold you. Putting you in a float pretty much never worked out. Giving you a bath was a speedy operation as you screamed the entire time. As soon as you could sit up on your own (5 months), I just started bringing you in the shower with me. You were happy to sit there playing with toys as long as you didn't feel like you were sitting in a puddle of water, it was okay. I think you've turned a corner with this in the last week though. Now you're happy to play in the baby pool in the backyard and are comfortable playing in the bathtub (even with your big sister being wild around you) as long as no one dumps too much water on your head at once. I have high hopes that you are becoming more comfortable in the water and next season, you'll be thrilled to be in the pool and swimming in the lake when we visit Grandpa Gary and Grandma Connie. This years visit was pretty rough. You were crawling and the lake house is very unfriendly to babies and toddlers. When we were down at the dock, you had to be held unless we were in the boat. Then you could crawl around a bit at the bottom of the boat but, when it got hot, you hated to be dipped in the lake for a cool down. I'm sure you'll enjoy it more next year.....
When your Dad comes home from work and you see him, your face literally lights up and you scream and start moving your way to him as fast as you can. This of course makes your Dad smile and light up too. Gwendolyn is always trying to play with you. I have to remind her to not be too rough with you and that you're still a baby. When you're old enough to understand the games she's trying to play, I think you guys will have a great time playing together. Gwendolyn can really make you giggle. I was lucky enough to get one of these giggle fits on video. It's so cute when you find something funny and will repeatedly laugh about it. Usually it's some sort of slapstick style comedy. Gwen really gets a charge out of making you laugh.
I'm so excited at what the future will bring for you. Link, you are the perfect completion to our family. We all love you and can't get enough of your hugs and smiles. I love being your Mom.
I love you the most,
Mommy
