Ben turns ONE!

I blink and here we are, a year later, with an almost toddler.

Ben's actual birthday was uneventful. Sadly, he was sick on his birthday. It seems each first birthday that our kids are sick with something. He happened to be running a fever and a little cranky. We made cupcakes for everyone to enjoy any way.  About three quarters of them went to waste. I was hoping by Saturday (three days later), he would be healthy again and alas he was! That night we enjoyed the best homemade purchased vanilla, banana-creme filled cake ever. There was so much icing on his smash cake that he never got to the actual cake part. It was pretty funny, though, watching him devour the icing.

Since our last post, 6 months ago, "Benny" is crawling, cruising, coasting, but just not quite standing alone and walking. He says words like "dada," and "mama" and "ni-ni" (night-night). He points. He plays "indian." He signs "all done." He dances, like moves his whole body, for more food, rather than signing "more." He's fascinated with plugs, cabinets, trash cans, toilet paper, drawers and doors. He climbs and dismounts the stairs with ease. He keeps up and plays well with Millie and Cam. They still adore him and exhibit tons of patience with him.

My typical routine once I put him on the floor to play involves a child-proof quality check. If I forget, Ben is sure to remind me that the stair gate was left open or, worse, the toilet seat was up. When he's headed for trouble, I'm usually watching. I say, "danger Benny," and he responds "Da-duh" but in a way that makes it sound like "danger." Cute stuff.

He's eating everything. No more baby food. His favorite foods are peas and bananas. His food adventure is only beginning! Whole milk here we come, once weaning is complete. That may be a while though.

Here are his stats:
Weight- 19 lbs
Height- 31"

Milestones include:

4/15 first tooth

4/30 crawling on all fours

5/15 2nd tooth

7/2 pointing

7/24 discovered security blanket

At a year: nursing 2-3 times a day and eating mainly small bites of regular food like spaghetti, pizza, edamame, potatoes, waffles and strawberries.