Aiden is Thirteen Months

Aiden is 13 months old today, which means he is practically a veteran one-year old.  Just this week, we watched his walking go from fifty percent of the time to seventy-five the next day and now he's hovering in the ninety to ninety-five.  He's quite steady as long as there is nothing in his path though he's still working on stepping over things.

He added another tooth, for a total of eight.  I wish I could say that makes him a great eater, but he is quite picky.  Neither of the girls ever turned food away or threw it on the floor, but he does both.  Things he does like are any variety of fruit, crackers, cereal, yogurt, cottage cheese and any and all forms of popsicles and ice-cream.

More and more he's aware of what his sisters are doing and how he can be involved, too.  So far they are thrilled to have him along and consider his presence to be an asset.  He has begun to enjoy the "crib time" he has with them when they go to "wake him up" after naps and in the morning.

He's been sleeping really well...12-14 hours at night.  Because of this, sometimes he only does one three-hour nap.  I'm down to nursing him just twice a day.

He knows how to do tantrums (already!)...the prostrate-on-the-floor, smack-your-head variety.  Its gotten him exactly zero so far, so hopefully it will quickly pass.

Aiden likes to be in water.  He's happy in the pool when someone is holding him, or when he's in a floaty tube.  And recently he's gotten braver about walking along the dock at the lake.  Still not thrilled about the splash park though.  However, he does put up with the torture his sisters inflict on him in the kiddie pool and in the bathtub.

He says Momma. :)  And cracker.

I think we only added one new nickname this month.  Amanda calls him "Aid".

He loves his daddy and says dada, dada! whenever he sees him.  Aiden is so much fun and I just love this age!  Oh, I'm sorry...have I been saying that for 13 months now?  Well, its true!  Its all been amazing so far.

My Boy

Last week I finally took the opportunity to take some photos of Aiden, in honor of him turning 1!  He was only mildly cooperative, as I knew would be the case because when I'm around, he usually wants to be held.  Avery came along with me and was a huge help.  She is just getting so big, too and what a blessing!

Here are a couple of my favorites.  Ah...such sweetness, especially at this age.  Incidently, the verse at the end has nothing to do with this post, just in case you were looking for some deep, hidden meaning. :)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us

 throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and

let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Aiden in Twelve Months

Aiden turned one a week ago!  Here's how we celebrated his day...
Splash park after naps.  He's still not too sure about it but still managed to get wet.

The girls were pretty sure that the most special thing we could do for Aiden would be to take him to Chuck E. Cheese, but Shaun and I are still a bit scarred from our last visit there so we settled for the mall where we rode on the carousel (with a tight grip on daddy's shirt)

and played on the play scape

We tried to justify that Aiden's favorite restaurant must be Outback, but we could not so we ended up at a place that gives balloons out.  During dinner the girls suggested that we get him dessert and sing to him, so the wait staff came over and sang to him.  This was his dumbfounded express the entire time.

Now here's the post I started back on July 13:

Deep breath...I looked at the clock a little after 7 this morning and thought...oh, if I could redo this year!  I'd be holding a warm, slimy baby in my arms right this very minute...someone I didn't know, but would enjoy the next year learning about and getting to know.  But...I can't, so I will continue to enjoy him in the moment...this moment.

Aiden is talking!  In fact, much of what he says sounds like actual words, but knowing we are his proud parents, we are sure we are just imagining it.  These words are confirmed...

doggy
kitty
uh-oh!
Pop
balloon
yucky
Daddy
Momma (once, only one time, but clear)

He sings while dancing and clapping hands.  He actually sings part of one of the VBS songs that the girls have played in their room roughly 300 times.  He sings the uh, uh, uh, oh, uh, uh, uh, oh part, and right on cue every time...so funny.

He has a new tooth on the bottom for a total of 7.

In all these 12 months he never once peed with his diaper off, except in the bathtub...will that mean early (and easy) potty training? :)

He stands up unassisted so he can play with both hands and will take a step here or two there to complete whatever mission he is on, but still no walking.  Actually, Aiden still prefers to be held, specifically by me.

He's become choosy about the food he eats.  Still loves all manner of fruit but tosses most vegetables aside.  I know his tastes will change over time and for his sake I hope so...could make for some long nights at the dinner table for him. :)

He weighs 20 pounds exactly which puts him in the 15th percentile...progress!  His head is still measuring big, but has not grown since last time, so they are not worried.

Shaun and I both agreed that while this year has gone by fast, it feels like there was never a time when he was not part of our family.  He transitioned in so smoothly from day one and has taken hold of our hearts forever.  His sisters adore him and watch out for him.  We are truly blessed.

"Aiden, do your silly face"

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 

turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 

and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 

and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 

then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:1-5

Wordless Wednesday

Aiden is Eleven Months

Isn't he handsome?  We are having so much fun with him!  More personality comes out each month and it is the most amazing thing to watch a little person emerge.  Let's do this month bullet style...

*Turning around to get off the couch and down the stairs.  He cannot get near the stairs without two sisters immediately running to his "aide".

*He goes up the stairs with no trouble

*Cut four teeth on top, really all the same day, though the one to the right of his front tooth was prominent first

*He's just started "singing"...I'm trying to teach him Twinkle, Twinkle

*He stands for up to a minute or two without holding on to anything.  He used to not know he was doing it, now he does it regularly

*For sure he is ticklish, though that's not a new development

*Eats well, though has quite a few things he won't eat.  This is a new concept for me since the girls never turned away anything.  Still can't pinpoint the things he consistently doesn't like however, I know he is a big fan of fruit, specifically strawberries.

*He sleeps right through the morning feeding at 6 am, so now we see him closer to 8

*Nicknames of the month: Dabby, Roo, Roo-Roo, Dukey

He gets packed around like this quite a bit and doesn't mind, unless he was in the middle of something.

See those teeth?

Believe it or not, I get this face some, too.

I cropped this photo so you wouldn't be able to see the AA battery he had in his mouth. :)

Apparently, men learn the remote thing early.

Roo, you have our hearts.  Mine skips a beat when I look in those eyes.  We love you!