Chase is one!

My baby is 1 year old! We started with some birthday pancakes, played and played on the floor, read some books, Tate played in his room while Chase took his first nap. Then we ate some lunch, took a short walk in this wonderful unseasonably warm weather, played some more and when Daddy arrived home we ate dinner and celebrated. We sang happy birthday at the top of our lungs and ate yummy carrot coconut muffins with cream cheese frosting.

We gave Chase his very own muffin and he ate a little, but had more fun with just playing in his food.

Then it was time for presents. Tate could hardly contain his excitement…”Chase, you get presents!!!! It’s your birthday!! You are one!!!” It was adorable! Tate had a ball helping Chase rip the wrapping and Chase wanted to just tear at the paper instead of open presents, so we had to nudge him along.

Bath-time is still one of Chase’s favorite events of the day, so it was fitting that Jordon, Konda and Jim gave Chase a totally great bath toy for his birthday! Tate said “we can both play with this, right"?” They also picked up a few cute outfits and some socks – how did you all know Chase needed socks!? I never seem to have the right size on hand, they are either too small or Tate-size.

They also snuck in a little something for Tate, hologram car stickers! He was totally stoked…he had never seen anything so cool! We decided we are going to save them so for something special. Thanks you guys!

Grandma and Grandpee gave Chase a fun music book and a animal puzzle. Tate spent his own money at the consignment store and purchased Chase a very cool John Deer dump truck.

I picked up a few puzzles at the consignment store too, they are so fun, yet developmental! I think Melissa and Doug toys are so cool, so they are hard to pass up when they are such a bargain. Here Daddy and Chase are checking out the one with all the metal latches. 

Finally, I made Chase a personalized book of his first year. The pictures are really big with big words and fun graphics. It’s something he can turn and chew on and just go to town with. We have a few photo books with Tate when he was growing up and Chase just loves looking through them, so I think he will get a kick out of seeing his own cutie-patootie face. 

Chase – you are an angel from heaven, God’s blessing to us. Your sweet smile brightens our hearts and you could not be loved more. It has been pure joy to see you grow this last year. You loved being a baby, so content and peaceful. Toddlerhood is nipping at your heels and it won’t be long before you are bursting at the seems to explore the world and we can’t wait to watch! You are our treasure!

Update on the Chaser:

• He plays “cars” with Tate by holding a car and pushing it through the air and saying “vmmmmmmmmmmmm” in this cute little baby hum.
• He weighs just over 19 pounds. He is 28 1/4 long and his head is 18 1/4 around.
• He is not crawling yet, but we are trying not to overreact. I have spoken with many mothers who’s children were late walkers/crawlers. And he is developing beautifully in every other way. Tyler and I think it is basically motivation, he is so laid back; he just doesn’t have the drive yet. The pediatrician said she would like to see him mobile in some fashion, scooting on his hiney, army crawling, whatever. So Tyler and I decided we will give it one more month, then we will make an appointment with a physical therapist just to get some ideas. But my gut tells me that he will be mobile before then. We have some little exercises we are working on with him and he seems to be making little steps in the right direction. For example, I had him on his stomach on a ball to put him in the crawl position and he pushed himself up to a sitting position…progress! 
• Chase is still a champion sleeper. He clocks in about 11 to 12 hours in at night and about 2 to 3 hours in his two naps during the day. He likes sleep!
• He is so responsive! If I ask him a question and he knows what it is, he just giggles and gets so excited! Like if I say, “lets go get your brother from school” he just claps and smiles; it is like he is saying, “awesome, I can’t wait to see my big brother!”
• His favorite word at the moment is “mamamamamamamam”, especially when he is frustrated and wants something.
• I am working on phasing out the bottle; during the first few attempts he was a little ticked at me, so we will take it slowly! :)