Past 12...

Oh goodness, I am so behind...Abram turned 1 on January 6 and I still cannot believe it.  I look at him and still see my sweet little baby.
On his actual birthday we went to Gymboree in the morning, and then had a low key afternoon, just the three of us.

Loving some parachuting....and chasing after Braddock

Skype dinner date with daddy, complete with a super yummy cupcake gift from a sweet friend.

It almost seemed like he knew when he crossed over into being a "big boy one-year-old" because he woke up the morning of his birthday with this sudden, incredible appetite for independence.  He wants to feed himself (he eats pretty much anything you put in front of him, with his current favorites being cheese, carrots, peas, bananas, and oatmeal)...and is SO proud when he does :)...when he wants more, his joyful, relaxed demeanor turns very serious, with an emphatic pointing finger toward the item of his choice, and (as of today!!) a "moooe  mooooe!" (more) ....then a "Mmmmmm!" (Yum!)

 ...he wants to walk by himself (a few days after his birthday he took his first steps),

 and as of today he is spending more time trying to walk than his "speed crawling" (although, he still likes to hold on to my hand or my pants leg for reassurance,

and he has taken up the art of "speed cruising" where he hangs onto furniture and goes as fast as he can from one couch to the other, laughing hysterically).  He loves music and will literally stop mid-play to dance and sing.  His favorite songs right now are "Rockin Robin", "If You're Happy and You Know It", and the Gymbo the Clown songs.  Sometimes he dances so hard that he actually hurts himself (knocking his head into a chair or a wall), so I'm having to make sure now that when he's dancing he is in a wide open space :).  He loves ball/hammer toys where you put the balls in the top and hammer them until they slide down the slide (he thinks that is hilarious), sliding cars down ramps (or toilet seats),

stacking blocks, "opening and closing" doors (especially the receiver cabinet) and drawers, using the toy tool bench (especially the drill), splashing and pouring water in the tub, chewing on washcloths (if he is in the tub he has his favorite blue washcloth in his mouth),
                               
and is trying desperately to keep up with brother.  He is starting to get more interested in books, but mostly the ones that are familiar, ("Words", "Goodnight Moon", Eric Carle stuff, "Green Eggs and Ham"...and some of the 'peekaboo' books)

 and a size that he can hold himself and turn his own pages.  He has said what I thought was "doh" (dog), "ba" (ball), "Bo" (Gymbo), but the one that has been consistent has been "uh-oh!"...and one of his favorite past times these days is emptying drawers and saying, "uhoh!" as he drops the contents to the floor (or tosses his food overboard to Nestle who is almost always anxiously waiting at his feet).

Still not a fan of the sippy cups (and we've tried a bunch!), and even less of a fan of whole milk (the pic below is from his birthday...having his first sip of whole milk).

  Yesterday I was working with him drinking milk out of a straw...and he actually took some in his mouth and then proceeded to blow it all back out the other end making a nice smear down the window. Hmm...

He is also showing signs of beginning to outgrow our rocking time before bed...I've tried every different position and song that I can come up with in a fleeting effort to hang on to those precious moments just a little bit longer, but more often than not he just wants to be put in bed with his glow worm, paci, and sleep sheep and love on his animals and hum himself to sleep.  One the upside, he has taken to giving goodnight "kisses" after I put him in his bed (he leans his head in to my cheek and we say, "awww", and tonight he even blew kisses and said, "Mmmmmmwa!" to Braddock at bedtime.  (Melt..)
He is about 21 pounds and wears 18 month sizes with the bottoms rolled up...his hair is an aubrun red/brown and is yet to be cut (I'm waiting as long as possible)...(but it is getting pretty long on the ears)

One thing is for sure, Abram has a streak of pure, life-loving mischief....in almost everything he does he keeps a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye.  I can't wait to learn what's going on inside that little noggin'... 

Although we did a nice, quiet, low-key celebration on his actual birthday, we had a big bash with family while we were back in South Carolina over the holidays.  The entire family got together and we hit up the local bouncy castle place.  I had never been before...but let me just say, holy cow, I think the adults had just as much (if not more) fun as the kiddos....(and it was also hard to move the next day!!)  These are a few pics from the party...

 

shoes off...time to get serious!

"Bouncing" is right up his ally :)...Cakes for the 'grown ups', and one each for Braddock and Abram, made by the amazingly talented Kaitlin (soon to be Mrs. Kaitlin!! :)

 "If you're happy and you know it..."

 The whole gang...

 Braddock was SO careful to stay clean...and Abram just went for it :)

 Love his sweet face!

 So yummy...I think I'll just.....

 ....yep...stick my whole face in it!! :)

 Braddock opening his present from Abram...and taking it to relax and read while Abram finished opening presents :)  (It was the next book in his "Click Clack MOO" series)

 Worn out after a BIG day!

Happy Birthday, sweet son.