12 months

so, maybe you're 12.5 months now, but....1 year, wowza!

you are sweet, spunky, silly and so so so much fun!

little Judson Ray, I can't imagine life getting better than it is with you, because right now...it is sweet!

you are officially no longer a baby

my emails that I get weekly usually say, "Your Baby This Week", but now they say "Your Toddler This Week". So, i guess it's official...ha!

you toddle around everywhere and are really looking so much like a little boy

you are into everything

you touch anything within your reach

and grab whatever you're not supposed to

very, very curious

and agile

and coordinated

and determined

this combination is not always desireable. 

we attempt to barricade anything that would lead to injury

you can walk just about anywhere

and you can stand up from sitting or squatting without any problem, at all

which is always exciting! 

also, you love that little toothbrush

you try to climb on anything and everything

you still love to "read" and are starting to do so more independently 

you love to sit in daddy's chair and always look so proud when he catches you

but sometimes, you just like to kick back

you are ALL boy and like to tackle

get dirty

climb

drive anything that has wheels

(thanks to our family, you now have a parking lot full of ride-on toys)

and like to knock things over

you make everything more fun and do not lack in the personality department

the logistics:

you have 4 teeth and i think getting two more

you are in the 90th percentile for height and weight

your hands are HUGE! 

your doctor verified that they are really large, it's not just my imagination

you eat anything we eat....and lots of it

your favorites seem to be maple flavored oatmeal, grapes, eggs, fruit bars, butter beans, chicken salad, spaghetti, yogurt melts. well, actually.....anything! 

you refer to all food as "nan-ah"

you can and do point at what you want or who you want

you can walk anywhere

you really only get fussy when you're tired

so basically, it's not hard to figure out what you need or want

you sleep great (knock on wood) for naps and at night

it takes you a little bit to wake up, which i completely understand

sometimes i just rest my chin on your crib rail and talk to you while you look around and slowly wake up. i'm thankful that we're rarely in a rush to get anywhere. i understand that we have it pretty good and for that i'm overwhelmingly grateful and refuse to take it for granted. 

you, my dear Judson Ray, have got me

all of me

your dad, too.

we are honored that we get to parent you in this thing called life.

you and your spunky little self are going to make this a pretty fun and good (and most probably challenging) gig.

you're going to be a big dude if your feet and hands are any indication.

so, i better get my bluff in early before you're towering over me.

equally your personality's dose of crazy, is your hairs dose of crazy

what we are doing with it is beyond me.

cutting it last week, not this week

combing to the right today, combing to....you get the idea

i guess we'll just see. after all, haircuts aren't hanging around our house these days.

happy 12 months little booger!

we love you so much more than i could've imagined.

and you're off!