Freedom!

The Great Outdoors!, originally uploaded by bburbank.

Well, mister, in one week you will turn one year old. Since I last wrote you have learned to walk and crouch and stand up on your own without pulling yourself up on anything. You can feed yourself just about anything if I cut it up really small. Today you helped me take Leela outside. You walked right down the sidewalk, but the big plant near the doorway distracted you. When you got to the grass you bent down and “swished” it back and forth with your hands. It’s a whole new world of freedom for you, inside the house and out.

At almost one year old you weigh about 28 pounds and are about 32 inches tall. You have long golden curly hair that everyone greatly admires. Your feet are too fat to get shoes on them and you are wearing 24 months clothes. You still don’t sleep through the night very often, but you take good long naps during the day. You like to “play” with Leela and with Calina. You chase Leela around to try and get her little egg toy. When you get the toy you show it to her and wave it in front of her face. You like to swing Calina in her swing and grab her legs and feet. You are swimming pretty nicely, kind of crawling through the water. You have no fear of swimming and will jump right in from the poolside. You like to play with my piggy bank and can even put the coins in the slot. Pigeon is your very best friend. He goes with us everywhere we go. You like to flip pages in any book, whether its your giant Baby Einstein picture book or one of your Dad’s sci-fi novels. You entertain yourself very nicely with toys and exploring. You aren’t really speaking any discernible words yet, but you do bob your head and say “yeah yeah yeah” and when we say nooo you shake your head back and forth. You say a lot of syllables, lately “eesh eesh eesh.” I love it when you pick up something new and interesting to you and then hold it up for me to see. You ride in the little cart behind my bike. We went on a long bike ride with your Nana the other day. You have eight big teeth, four top, four bottom. You still like to put things in your mouth, but you will often explore them first now by looking instead of instantly shoving them into your mouth. You like funny games like when I poke my finger through the rungs of your crib and than pop my head up over the top of the crib. You like to throw yourself onto soft pillows and rub your face on them. You like to stand up in front of the TV and watch Yo Gabba Gabba and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. You like to go do things with me, especially if you can ride around in your Ergobaby carrier on my back. You really really love bubbles and balloons, too.

I’m getting ready for your birthday party. We are all really excited to celebrate with you. The theme for the party is Jhonen’s favorite things from A-Z. Aunt Jenny got you an amazing sounding cupcake tower with letters of the alphabet on it. I’m going to decorate the house with your favorite things. I will write all about it in a week!

Happy almost birthday, Jho. This year with you has been the biggest adventure. You are so special….so curious, so loving, so aware of the world. I am so proud of everything you’ve already accomplished in such a short time and can’t wait to see what the next year holds. I love you, little man.