12-Month Checkup

Happy End-of-NaBloPoMo to meeeee!!

We went to Wilder's 12-month doctor's appointment this afternoon. It doesn't seem possible that it has been a year since we were there for our first appointment. Wilder weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and Paul and I were sleep-deprived and wondering what we'd gotten ourselves into. 

Wilder and I got dressed up to mark the occasion :)

Today, my big boy weighs just under 25 lbs. and is 30.5 inches long. Both are 75th percentile. He was so good for our doctor who we love and she was impressed with his words and pointing and showing her where his nose is, which is a new thing and so cute :) 

Then came the vaccinations, which were pretty awful this time. They included two shots in each leg and a finger prick. NOT fun :( He fell asleep on the way home and hadn't had a good afternoon nap earlier so I drove around for an hour letting him sleep. Then when we got home he was still pretty fussy and I felt sorry for him so I allowed this to happen...

We leave one cabinet in the kitchen unlatched that he's allowed to dig in and make a mess but it's never to this extent. It sure perked him up though. I guess sometimes taking your anger out on inanimate objects just makes everything better. 

I just love my sweet one-year-old :)

Puppy Love to the Extreme

Why does my child do this??

Wilder goes up to Posey multiple times a day and sticks his face in her face with his mouth wide open wanting her to lick him... in his wide open mouth... which she happily obliges. 

Should I be concerned? We have his 12-month doctor appointment tomorrow. I think I'll bring it up when she asks if I have any concerns. I'll bet she's never heard that one before ;) 

Wilder's First Birthday

A friend of mine photographed the party for me so I want to wait until I get her pictures to post any from Sunday (y'all, she worked so hard!), but here are some from Wilder's actual birthday on Saturday. Some of Paul's family arrived Saturday so we did a little family birthday then. Wilder was so sweet and very interested in all the gifts. He kept climbing all over them and was so fascinated once we started opening them. I would have loved to know what he was thinking while we opened present after present. I imagine it was something like Jackpot! 

Wilder and Auntie Liz

Our little family

Wilder, Mama, and Grana

Wilder, Dada, and Daddy G

Birthday boy!

Auntie Liz decked him out in pilot gear :)

We walked to URBN Pizza down the street for dinner and had such a good time. So much good pizza too. 

Wilder is a lucky baby to have so many people who love him in his life. It meant so much to us for all of you to come so far just for him!

And I just got a sneak peek of some photos from the party from my friend. First of all, how amazing are these shots (Sissy! Thank you!) and secondly, Wilder totally dominated his cupcake, no? ;)

Hello

I am alive. I have survived. It was good. Will post more when I can think. 

All I know is this dude had a very happy birthday!

One Year

Our Precious Wilder,

Today you are one year old. It has been so amazing to watch you grow and learn over the last 52 weeks and it has been such a privilege for your daddy and me to be able to witness all your little moments. We are so proud to be your parents, Wilder. 

You are so easygoing and ready to go along with whatever we're doing. You love to play games with us and imitate our actions. You pick up on things so quickly. You are a bookaholic and, as you sit in your usual pile of books, it often looks like you are cross-referencing as you flip through one, then pick up another, and then check back in the first one. I love that you love to learn -- you are like a little sponge. You are constantly pointing to anything and everything and love when we name what you're pointing to. You laugh easily and often and love to make other people laugh. Your sweet smile is like pure sunshine. You love to give hugs but also love to "get" us. You are such a little character. You are so busy all the time. You love to eat. You love to pet and pull on your doggies. You love your baths. You love balls, motorcycles, and ducks. You love to bang on things and throw things. Your new favorite word is Uh-oh and sometimes I think you drop things just to be able to say it. 

It is completely mind-blowing how much you have changed in a year and how much you have changed our lives for the better. Learning how to be parents hasn't been easy but it has been the most rewarding and fun experience of our lives. We have tried to enjoy and savor every minute we have had with you so far because you are so precious to us. The last year has been the best year of our lives because of you. You have added so much meaning, joy, and love to our lives and we truly and absolutely adore you.

Happy First Birthday, Wilder!

Love, 

Mama + Daddy

Life of Wilder: Week Fifty-Two

 My beautiful precious Wilder is 52 weeks old today! Hooray!

We have so been enjoying have family here this week and look forward to more family arriving this weekend. Wilder has been eating up all the attention and smiling non-stop. He's gone on countless strolls with Grana and has had lots of playtime with Uncle William and Aunt Lauren. He thinks being told "Goodnight" by five people is so much fun :) 

I still have tons to do before his actual birthday tomorrow and his party on Sunday so I'm just going to post some pictures from this week and leave it at that. A more wordy "one-year" post will be coming tomorrow.

Opening his first ever birthday gift -- 

a riding airplane from Grana

 Thanksgiving

 My brother and me

 Flying laps around the living room

 Watching Daddy carve the turkey

 Reading with Grana and very serious about it ;)

Punch balloons are a great toy but very counterproductive 

when trying to perform a diaper change

 Every explorer needs a proper walking stick

 Playing ball with Rider

Giving Rider a kiss

 I love Wilder's "Mom, that flash is too bright" face

 Wilder loves his Aunt Lauren

 Entertaining himself with a straw at dinner tonight

 Daddy and Uncle William putting Wilder's

slide together so we can give it to him tomorrow

OH! And this happened...

Wilder has been walking a few steps at a time for the last three or four days. They've been halting, precarious, wobbly steps but steps nonetheless. :)

Wow, I can't believe this is my last Life of Wilder post and I really can't believe I've done it for all 52 weeks of his first year. I'll definitely keep posting weekly about our lives but no more weekly pictures and mandatory post every single Friday. I think I deserve a break. Hope you all enjoy your weekend! I know I will :)