Triple the Fun

Calvin has had a very rough week. His parents have been very busy, which means he has been extremely neglected. We keep promising to make it up to him once this week is over, but I feel sad watching him playing all alone with a forlorn, lonely expression on his face, or following us around the house, arms outstretched, crying for a little attention.

In an attempt to make it up to him the other night, I tried to think of all the naughty fun we could have. We ended up turning on Tivo to Make Way for Noddy, eating ice cream, and putting Mickey Mouse stickers all over our bodies. You can't tell by the pictures, but we had a lot of fun. He adores Noddy, thought the stickers on his forehead were hilarious, and alternated between eating the ice cream and smearing it on the floor and his clothes. He's such a sweet little boy who is so patient with me. I can't believe how lucky I am to be his mom.

A Package from out West

Thursday Calvin received a big box in the mail, and was so excited about all of the shiny wrapped packages inside. His Grandma and Grandpa Boone and Auntie Carrie had sent him lots of fun birthday presents. My mom had asked what he likes, and I told her board books and puzzles, so they sent lots of books - 2 that light up! - a magnetic board book of animals, and a nesting puzzle. He has had so much fun with all of it! Thank you for remembering him!

12 Month Check-up

I have this headband that he likes to wear on his head like a ninja. He thinks it's hilarious.

Wednesday was Calvin's 12 month check-up. He had 2 shots to finish out his baby series, plus a flu shot. The nurse was amazed that he didn't cry during the flu shot,but he was very brave through both. He had a small round Garfield band-aid on each bicep. Everything looks great. He's healthy and developmentally on track. He is walking all over the place, jabbers constantly, loves looking at books and pointing things out. Just where he should be. Here are his stats:

- Height - 31.5 inches - 90th percentile
- Weight - 25 lbs 8oz - 90th percentile
- Head - 19 inches - 90th percentile

A perfectly proportioned little sweetheart.

Lawn Boys

Makes My Day...

I can't post the video here, but please follow the link to watch.

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/the-lawrence-welk-show/727501/

SNL has gone down hill the last couple of years, but this one from a few weeks ago is hilarious and never fails to make me laugh. My sister Mariah and I decided that at our next family reunion, we're going to force all of the sisters to perform it with us. I even have a scary, puffy yellow dress that I wore as my cousin's bridesmaid (If you read this Tammy, don't be offended. I made you wear pink polka dots - I'd say we're even).

Anyway, enjoy...

Best Present Ever

Last time we were in Mercersburg, Calvin's grandparents gave him his birthday gift a bit early. It is the cutest little Radio Flyer push wagon, and he adores it. It is just the right height for him to run all around the house, with this fun little "click-click" sounding device that keeps it from moving too fast for him to keep up with. He can be seen daily, loading up his favorite toys and running back and forth from one room to the next. I believe it's been one of the biggest factors in how good he is now walking. Today, anytime point A and point B were within a reasonable distance from one another - he walked it. For the first time in his life, he walked more than he crawled. And he had a huge, proud grin on his face the entire time.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Nelson for the best birthday present ever! Here are my favorite pictures from home and in Mercersburg:

Investing in Tradition

I've had a PB gift card that I've been sitting on for the past year, waiting for the perfect item to come along. Well it finally did, and wouldn't you know it, it's on back order. I toyed with the idea of making my own since it would be fun to have that personal touch, but I just couldn't resist how big and detailed this was. Imagine the fun of bringing it out every year to enjoy. So for an exorbitant fee, and a little patience as they renew their stock, sometime after November 15th, this baby is all mine. I couldn't be more thrilled.

Twelve Months Old Today (a day late)

Dear Calvin,

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since the anticipation and anxiety of last fall. Twelve months ago, your grandma Boone had flown in from Utah to be here for your birth. We had a couple of false alarms, but the day things really happened was a beautiful Sunday in the fall, and I was feeling so heavy and restless. We decided to drive to Pennsylvania to show grandma Boone the countryside and visit grandma and grandpa Nelson. We ate delicious homemade soup (that your grandpa is still convinced was magic), and that night we went to bed as normal. Your dad had just drifted off to sleep, when I heard a tiny click and felt a tap tap on the inside of my abdomen before water gushed everywhere.

I woke your dad up and told him it was time. He woke up your grandma Boone as I showered and prepared to go to the hospital. That night we all slept in the hospital, and at 7am the next morning I knew it was time to push. At 8:15 the doctor ran into the room, and five minutes later you came into the world. Your dad cheered me on the entire time, and he was the first one to hold you and watch as they washed, measured, tested, and dressed you. I watched from across the room. I couldn't see you, but I remember how happy your daddy looked. It has been an exciting year of growth for you, and so many changes have taken place even in the last month. Here are the highlights:

• First things first... Today - this very day - you said your first word! (I don't count Mama and Daddy because the line between when you just jabbered and when you actually understood it is just too fuzzy.) Tonight as your daddy was reading you a book, he pointed to a picture and said "apple". You immediately repeated the word apple. We clapped as you said it over and over, and you were very pleased with yourself. You then went away from the book to play with something else. About 20 minutes later, you brought the book back to me and pointed to the fruit saying "apple." We turned the other pages, just to make sure, but you definitely knew which page was the apple. Tomorrow we're going to take you to the grocery store to see a real one so you understand it in a different context. We are so proud of you!
• The day that we went on the train ride with grandma and grandpa, we discovered that you had a tooth to the left of your front two teeth. You now have 5 perfect teeth!
• You LOVE playing with brooms and rakes, to the point that you'll scream if we take them away. We hope you're an aspiring janitor so you can take good care of your mom and dad in our old age.
• For several weeks now you have been standing on your own and taking small steps here and there. Two days ago you walked your longest stretch - about 15 steps. You get better every day.
• You are extremely ticklish, especially on your thighs, neck, and under your arms.
• Your current favorite foods are cinnamon roll oatmeal, Gerber's version of spaghetti-o's, bananas, macaroni and cheese, and Gerber's version of cheese puffs.
• You still carry around the blanky you've loved for months, but now you carry around a fuzzy blue one as well. You sleep with BOTH of them always. One hugged to your body, the other one covering you.
• You are already a bookworm. You can sit and flip the pages, talking to yourself for long amounts of time. If given a choice between a toy and a book, 9 out of 10 times you want the book.
  
• You are always into everything. Especially the worst places like the toilets and cabinet full of cleaners.
• You adore horses and dogs. Last weekend we went to the ranch of one of your dad's coworkers, and you were in heaven. You chased the dogs and rode the horses with one of the cowboys. We couldn't keep you still.
• You love airplanes. Every time one goes overhead (which is A LOT since we live 10 minutes from an airport), you point and watch with your mouth open until they are no longer in sight.
• For weeks you've been sticking your fingers down your throat until you gag. You do it repeatedly. We are thrilled to have a future bulimic on our hands.
• You would still rather be outside than anywhere else. It is the place that you are the most content.

Calvin, our whole world has changed because of you - amazing changes full of wonder and excitement. Each day you surprise and delight us. It is most definitely a better world because you are here. We are overwhelmed with gratitude that one year ago today, you came to live in our home.

Love,

Mama and Daddy

The Components of a Perfect 1st Birthday...

His favorite breakfast:
A Few More Presents:
Calls from all of his aunts, uncles, and grandparents:


Enjoying a birthday lollipop:

His favorite dinner:
Playing at the park:

Tonight while Calvin was eating, Andy was singing a made up song in a low gravely rocker voice, dancing around the kitchen and striking random poses. Calvin was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe. I can't even believe how much fun his little personality is.

Monthly letter tomorrow. It's 2am, I'm finishing work, and I just don't have the energy to tell Calvin how great he is and how much he has accomplished at this point of his life. We had a good day though. That kid just makes life... fantastic.

Happy Birthday little Monkey. I hope it was a good day for you!

October Overview

Pictures from October that I liked but didn't post...

Matching boys: orange shirts, blue jeans, and smiles for the camera.

Sometimes he sits in the corner and laughs or claps while he's staring at something we can't see. Our theory is visiting spirits.

Chillin' with Mama.

The diaper changing escapee. He's just so dang fast, and before I know it, I'm left alone with an empty diaper, and he's off digging in the toy box. Or racing to another room to avoid recapture.

First Birthday Party

We decided to celebrate Calvin's first birthday while his grandparents were down visiting for Halloween, and since Calvin loves rubber ducks so much, we let them celebrate along with us. We ate french dip sandwiches, and then had a break for trick-or-treating before going back for the cake and presents. Here's how everything went down:

Andy took offense that I wouldn't let the "colored ducks" in the pond with the others. It made me laugh.

Calvin loved the cake. Most of it ended up on the floor, but he loved the flavor, loved that we let him dig into it on his own, loved playing with the ducks on top. The ice cream? Not so much.

He was pretty bored with unwrapping presents, so he only got through two. He opened a book that makes animal noises, and the little people Mayflower that I'm more excited about than he is. He loved those two though, and that's what mattered, so we'll just open the rest next week on his real birthday.

It was a very good day.

P.S. More Halloween

Andy's dad sent us the pictures he had taken with his camera, so here are a couple more I liked.

Painting up the lion. I love the reflection and that fuzzy little tail.

I love those cheeks and his tiny white teeth. Is he not the cutest lion you've ever seen?

Why? Because if you can't wear bright green eyeshadow on Halloween, then when can you? Also, how hot is my Matrix man? (To be honest I've never seen the movie, so I don't really have a clue, but I think he looks scrumptious.)