before my little baby boy turns ONE!
I can’t believe it!
I’m a little worried about how the 1 yr check up will go.
No, he doesn’t hold his own bottle. No, he’s not walking. No, he doesn’t say any words (we still think he says “okay” and he might have said something resembling “car” last night).
Don’t get me wrong, I am not concerned about his development, I am just a little worried about the long road ahead of us. You see, I have realized how stubborn he is. If he does not want to do something, i.e. hold his own bottle, then he won’t. He’d rather not drink it than give into us forcing him to hold it.
But he’s definitely mastered many other things:
He understands so much!
- he knows to look at the window if you ask “where is the bird?” or “where is the car?”
- he knows that if you pick up the remote, something happens with the TV (but he has very little interest in it)
- he knows what the light switch does and loves to play with it
- he knows where the cookie jar is
- he wants to feed himself, even with his own fork
- he loves this cup which he has TOTALLY mastered
- he’s very good about knowing what buttons on what toys do what
- he loves toys that make noise, especially this annoying toy
- he’s very good with his pincer grasp
- he’s into everything and is very good at opening things he’s not supposed to open
- he loves crawling up and down the stairs (he needs a little work on the down part)
- he is a great eater
- he uses both hands with the same proficiency
- he can reach anything that you think you put out of his reach
- he likes banging things
- he likes putting things in other things, then usually shaking them to make as much noise as possible
- he really knows how to communicate – i.e. get his point across
- he’s got the point and grunt (”eh!”) thing mastered
- he still uses his binky (pacifier) and his silky bear blanky but only for sleep time (daycare seems to have misplaced his Yank*ees taggie blanket – I’m a little upset)
- he is a little interested in books and will pull several off his shelf when you ask him for one, but he doesn’t sit and let you read to him
- he loves playing with his BFF K* and they giggle and jabber back and forth to each other (even though K* is 10 months older)
- he likes music and every so often will bob up and down on his butt when he hears music
- he is going through a shy phase where he cuddles into you when you are trying to make him say hi to someone, but he does warm up if you give him food (kind of like a puppy)
- he knows his friends, aunts, Uncle Joey, Mema and Pop-pop and sometimes reaches for them over his mommies
- he bumps his head a lot and seems to think we have something to do with it
- he gets pissed off when he can’t open the dishwasher, the hutch with the glasses, the child gate, etc. – pissed off like we just stabbed him with something
- sometimes when he plays by himself, he just laughs and giggles to himself
- he’s a passionate, spirited child and when he’s mad, he’s mad and when he’s happy, he is so happy and joyful
I can’t believe it’s almost a year. We had no idea what we were in for the night he was born. We should have known as soon as we discovered that he was the loudest baby in the nursery.
He’s a fun, amazing child who will add so much more joy (and an occasional challenge) to our lives in the years to come.
Look at this boy! What a physique!
Dee said,
February 1, 2008 at 4:09 pm
He is so flippin’ cute!!! I would love to see him and Riley play together. I think they’d probably have a contest to see who can be the loudest and then both through a tempter tantrum. Which Riley is totally getting down. She can be QUITE “spirited” herself. It will be interested to see what you think when you’re here. See how much they resemble each other. Anyway, happy almost birthday Andrew!
Heddie said,
February 1, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Hi! I discovered your site before Andrew was born because I am also one of two mommies, and I had our little boy on 2/15/07. So I have had fun “watching” Andrew grow up right alongside my little Hutchinson. It’s really interesting to read your posts because developmentally, they have had exactly the same timing all year! So it was great to see today’s post — we, too, have been a little concerned that Hutch isn’t saying anything yet or holding his bottle. Everything you described about Andrew is spot-on when describing Hutchinson. The point-and-grunt thing especially!
ELLIE said,
February 1, 2008 at 6:36 pm
You all have nothing to worry about – he is creating his own path….if he holds his sippy cup GET RID OF THE BOTTLE…..he has moved beyond it….
he is doing great….and I think he says OKAY very well –
WOW – a year old – that is wonderful!!!
thanks for sharing it all
Peace–Ellie
Shannon said,
February 1, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Oh, he’s so cute! Love the toddler potbelly he’s got going on. (Erik’s is HUGE.) Andrew’s doing great. Don’t worry about the talking, it will come. Erik didn’t talk much either but has recently started showing more of an interest in saying words. It just happens all of a sudden. Also, our friend Heather (the one who babysits for us) has a son who didn’t talk at all until he was two, and then he just started saying sentences!
Stacey said,
February 1, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Isn’t it crazy how close that 1st birthday is getting?
He is really looking like a toddler! Wow.
I wouldn’t worry about stuff like the bottle holding (Riley only just started that because she liked us holding it) or the talking. If he makes sounds and says even 1 word, it’s probably okay. My brother took forever to talk. If grunting and yelling gets his point across then that is good enough for him.
I can’t believe the daycare lost the blanket! What on earth could they have done with it?!!
Jude said,
February 1, 2008 at 8:12 pm
FYI, “normal” for walking is anytime up through 15 months. You and Andrew are FINE.
merr said,
February 1, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I wouldn’t worry about his milestones. All kids develop differently and in their own ways. He sounds like a typical one year old to me already. I have watched many kids and they are all different! Right now I have two 15 month olds. One started walking before she was one and the other is still not walking! I also say to get rid of the bottle. No use in teaching him to hold it, it’s time to move on! Oh and of course, he is such a cutie!!
Sonya said,
February 1, 2008 at 8:51 pm
He’s so freakin adorable! He’s doing great – he really is. He may not have many discernable words, but that boy talks a lot – just in his own language.
meg said,
February 1, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Oh he is adorable!!!! I am SURE his one year checkup will go just fine my dear!
rainbomoms said,
February 1, 2008 at 11:01 pm
What an adorable little boy you have! I really enjoyed reading about the thigns he can do. What a cutie!
Wendy said,
February 2, 2008 at 2:49 am
What a wonderful post! Happy (almost) birthday! And congratulations moms.
KJand the Kids said,
February 2, 2008 at 6:13 am
It’s great that he doesn’t hold the bottle. He can now move on to cows milk in a sippy cup
The handles are much funner to tote around any ways 
He’s JUST FINE. He’s going to be walking soon. ANNNNND he’s SUPER cute.
Are you sure you can’t sneak him in a suit case
kittenroar5 said,
February 2, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I think he’s perfect. As a good friend of mine tells new mothers, “my daugther didn’t walk or talk until she was 18 months old. I reminded of her of that as she graduated from college, earned her master’s degree, and finished her dissertation.”
I like her and I think the boy’s belly is just about as cute as I can take.
Keri said,
February 2, 2008 at 5:45 pm
He’s is so handsome!! & he’ll be walking in no time at all.
& I think that the fact that he’s stubborn just tells you how strong and smart he’ll be when he’s grown.
Happy almost 1, Andrew!
Kyla said,
February 5, 2008 at 2:36 am
The first year passes by far too quickly. I really wish there weren’t “books” out there that made us judge our kids and where they are at. I guess those “books” are good if a kid is at one extreme or the other, but for most of our kids they just become who they become when they are ready. Andrew’s stubborn side will be what propells him to be successful – and to stick with things until he masters them. What a beautiful little boy – and I am excited to see what he does from now until his 2nd birthday!