Levi Andrew: 13 Months Old

Dear Levi, 

In the last month, you have really changed!  

For one thing, you have gained two pounds!  You are 23.5 pounds on our scale at home!  You are heavy and solid!  It is because you are always hungry and always eating!  You are a great eater--always eager to try new foods and sample whatever Mommy happens to be eating.  I will never forget how you like to pull up and stand holding on to me, begging for food by saying, "Mum mum!" (Food) or "Mah!" (More).  You really like to be fed while standing up for some reason!  You still eat puréed foods like fruit/veggies but you also eat your food cut or torn into small pieces.  If you don't like something, you spit it out or drop it on the floor and say, "Uh uh!" (Uh oh!).  You like to eat sticks of veggies and take bites off of an apple, but after chewing on it for a while, you spit it out.  Silly boy.  I am really happy that you are a good eater unlike your sister!

You have been more fussy this month.  I have noticed that you are sensitive and want me to hold you more.  Sometimes, though, you seem to not know what you want, like you don't want to be held nor do you want to be put down.  A few times, you have cried at church or gym child care when I drop you off.  You have never had stranger danger and I don't think it is that, really.  I think you are just teething.  I can feel a molar coming in on the upper left...

This month, you went on your first vacation.  Actually, it was a first for everyone in our family.  We had an awesome time on the Oregon coast.  Your Uncle John and Aunt Julia got married there.  You also did great on your first flight.  You were hamming it up with the people sitting behind us.  You would stand on my lap, pull yourself up so you could see over the seat backs, and grin and laugh at everyone.  I know they all thought you were awesome! 

Some of the things you like to do lately are playing with your cars, balls, pulling books off the bookshelf, banging on the washing machine, reaching in the cabinets/drawers and playing with the contents, banging on the TV, pulling the computer mouse off of the desk, confiscating cell phones and remote controls, opening the screen door and going out onto the patio when nobody is watching you (eek!), carrying around markers, knocking Whitney's Lego towers over, and trying to play with Whitney (but she thinks you are just messing everything up and taking things from her).  You are so innocent still.  Curious and innocent!

You are still not walking but you have been seen free-standing several times for a couple seconds.  I am not in a rush for you to start walking!  You are still my baby and let's be honest, I am already having a hard time keeping up with curious and fast little you!!  You have no fear of danger and limited understanding of certain consequences. 

Another fun thing this month was Fourth of July.  We did sparklers and fireworks, keeping you awake long past your usual bedtime.  You clung tight to mommy the whole time, watching everything quietly and never cried but you would jump in your skin every time a firework exploded!  

What a fun month it has been!  You sure changed and grew a lot!  Lots of firsts :)

I love you, Son!

Levi Andrew: One Year Old!

Happy Birthday, Levi!

What an awesome adventure this past year has been with you in our family.  You are the perfect son in every way, truly completing our family.  When I was pregnant with you, I admittedly had a harder time bonding with you because I had no idea what it would be like to have a son.  I really didn't know what boys were like.  But as soon as you were born, it was true love, Sweet Boy!  My heart grew bigger and I immediately was given the ability to love you completely, just as wholly and enormously as I love Whitney.  You are so special to me.  I'm crazy about you, Big Guy!  You are an amazing little boy and I'm excited to continue to watch you grow and to shepherd you as you become the person you were created to be!

Whitney has always had a lot of characteristics opposite of you.  You have been such an easy baby by comparison!  I love how laid-back you've always been since birth.  You go with the flow, you're adaptable, portable and enjoy being around people.  You have such a sweet, toothy smile and a great, hearty laugh and you are very secure and content by nature.  Everyone who meets you adores you.  You are so rewarding to be around!

Some new things for you this month: first swimming experiences and first dunk by the swim teacher!  You love playing in the water--that's nothing new--but now that it's summertime, we have been taking you and Whitney in the pool several times per week.  You are usually really calm in the water and you know how to kick and move your arms.  We're impressed and we think that you will pick up the skill of swimming really easily compared to Whit.

You started to say, "Mama".  The sweetest word that ever left your lips!  My heart melts every time you say my name :)  You can mimic blowing, shaking your head "no", and you try to mimic a tongue click by smacking your lips.  You love when I do that trick, for some reason.  You will even stop nursing to ask me to click my tongue.  Silly!  You are also learning how to wave your hand.

You are still nursing 4 times per day.  You haven't mastered the art of the cup just yet.  You love to eat.  Your favorite foods are puffs, mum mums, blueberries, yogurt, and food served in pouches.

Favorite past times: taking a bath (lots of splashing), swimming/water play outside, banging your hand on the television, carrying around cell phones and the TV remote control, cars, throwing a ball back and forth, and trying out different sippy cups.  I'm trying to get you interested in reading books, but you just don't have an interest in them.  I remember Whitney loved books even as a baby, but you're different.  You just like to explore and be active.  You also love to be carried around in my arms or in the Tula carrier.  Climbing stairs, climbing play structures or even just climbing over pillow mountains is another favorite of yours!

Whereas last month, you were interested in walking, lately, you don't try much at all.  You prefer to crawl.  I'm soaking in the memory of cute little you crawling all over the house.  I know that you will be walking soon and I'm going to miss seeing you crawl everywhere.  I love the way you saunter and shake your head back and forth as you crawl.  You act so cool all the time.  And you are :)

You still wake up once each night after about 9 hours straight of sleep.  Then you nurse and go back to sleep for a few more hours.  You take a short morning nap and a short afternoon nap, each one lasting an hour or so.  Sometimes they are a little longer than that.  You are so easy-going about your sleep routine.  You rarely complain!  You sleep to the sound of lullabies or classical music along with white noise to drown out Whitney's loud voice carrying down the hallway.  You also have two little "lovies", a doll and a puppy, that you cuddle with.  I still love to peek in on you and watch you sleep peacefully.

You have six teeth--four on top and two on the bottom.  You weigh 21 pounds, 5 ounces (70th percentile) and 30 inches (40th percentile).  You are perfect.

We had two birthday parties for you this month!  The theme was dinosaurs.  I had so much fun planning each of your parties.  The decorations were colorful, simple and cute.  Your first party was held in Reno and was attended by mostly your extended family and some of Mommy's close friends from childhood and their families.  Grandma Phyllis made the cutest dinosaur cupcakes for that party.  The second party was held at our home in Folsom on your actual birthday.  Instead of cupcakes, I made a tower of donuts and served lots of other fun breakfast foods.  The guests were Mommy's girlfriends (and their kids who are your first friends) each of whom has been really influential in your life and mine this past year.  I know they all loved celebrating with us.  It was a big play date!  You received lots of presents including Legos, cars, sand toys, clothes, and your first shoes.

Now begins your second year of life.  I am so excited about the new things you are going to learn!  Watching you grow up is sure fun!  I am very lucky to be your mom!