ONE Year!

One year. One whole year of life. I am so amazed at how much a human life can grow and develop in just one year! Our little baby went from being the cutest little newborn who loved to be held by everyone, to an active little toddler who won't sit still for one second. Speaking of the word toddler, I get Baby Center updates via email and up until now, it has always been "Your baby is 35 weeks old, etc." When it was time for his one year update, it said, "Your TODDLER is one year old!" Toddler! How can that be? I still view him as my little baby. Yes, you can say that I am slightly in a denial stage.

Zach has certainly entered the 'toddler' stage. He has been more adventurous and standing up for longer periods of time independently. He has even taken a few steps here and there. However, on April 20th (4 days after his birthday), he actually started walking! It is the cutest little thing I have seen. He is definitely a little toddler and is getting better everyday. It is so fun to see him walking around the house with his little hands up in the air. And when he walks over to me, and gives me a hug, melt. my. heart. 

Zach is at an incredibly fun age right now! I am enjoying it so much! He is becoming more independent and playing by himself, which is a nice break from his super-clingy mommy stage. He is so curious about everything and you can tell he is just soaking everything in. He tries to repeat words, is very curious and likes to explore everything. He is also a very social boy. When he is at the library, the train table at Barnes and Noble, or the park, he always likes to go over the the little kids and tries to keep up with them.

Here is what he has been up to this past month: 

• I prefer to eat finger foods now, which makes my mommy so happy. Some of my favorite things to eat: fruits: bananas, pears, blueberries, shredded apples; veggies: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato; cheerios, waffles, pancakes, french toast, grilled cheese, cheese, and really anything mommy and daddy are eating. Although the past few week(s) I have been pretty picky with my proteins. I have not been a huge fan of chicken, ground beef, peanut butter (which I just started this week!) My protein of preference is ground turkey, which mom and dad are pretty sick of themselves.   

• I say 'Yum' or "Mmm' when I am eating a food that I really like (which is almost all the time)! 
• I was officially weaned on 05.07.14
• I do love sweets: you can call me the sweet-toothed baby. Mom and dad have figured out that if they don't want me eating something, they have to eat it when I'm not around because I always want it. 
• I am such a little sponge and am really soaking up everything nowadays including words and actions. New words: banana 'nanana', ball, pear 'perr', bubble 'bub bub', dog 'do', pop, baseball 'ba-ball'. 
• I can also make some animal noises: if you ask me what an elephant says, I make I high pitched berrr sound. If you ask me what a cow says, I moo 'boooo' and if you ask me what a lion says, I roooooar! I am so incredible. 
• I am also a little imitator in actions. I can pick up Mommy's brush or my brush and put it up to my hair like I am going to brush it, I pick up the broom and pretend to sweep the floor, I pick up my spoon and try to put food on it to eat. I also enjoy going into my parents' bathroom and finding the Q-tips. Even though Mommy does not use them on me, I pick them up and put them up near my head/ear like I am cleaning it out. There have also been several times where I have made the same exact noise and action as my mom. One day we were coloring and she was making this noise while she was coloring, I picked up a crayon, made the same noise and scribbled. If she drops something suddenly and makes an "Ah" noise, I will do it as well.  
• On one of my daddy's day off we drove an hour and a half each way to go to a cherry blossom festival. It is suppose to be the largest cherry blossom festival in the entire WORLD. We got there and there was not one. single. bud on a tree. It was a major bummer. We did get out and walk around though. At least my mom snapped a picture of me in my baseball cap. 

• Celebrated spring by going to the Daffodil Festival at Gibbs Gardens with my Aunt Jen and Mommy. I loved crawling through the grass and daffodils. 

• Celebrated my cousins' Joseph, Angelina and Sarah's birthdays. I also celebrated my Aunt Jen's birthday!
• Went up to Asheville to visit my Nana and Grandpa.
• And of course went to the Biltmore.

• I have been LOVING the warm weather and going outside. We have done a lot of activities outside and go for a walk almost every day!
• I have a new cousin, Juliana Nicole! I am no longer the 'baby' of the family. 
• I now have 8 teeth!! Four on the top and four on the bottom. 
• I am becoming more independent at playing. 

• I went to the Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park with my mom and Aunt Jen. I loved people watching, catching bubbles, tasting frozen lemonade for the first time and watching the Mercy Me concert.  

• I have this new 'cheesy' smile that I do :D
• Took my first trip to the library and attended my first toddler story time!

• Celebrated my 1st birthday by going to the aquarium for the first time. I loved it and was so intrigued and mesmerized by all the sights.

• Had my first birthday party! It was a Tigger theme because I love my bouncy Tigger toy. 

• Celebrated my first Resurrection Sunday and participated in my first Parable Hunt. 

 

• Went to the Biltmore to see all the tulips and to commemorate my first visit to the Bilmore exactly one year ago, when I was only 6 days old!

•  I also went to my first petting zoo at the Biltmore. I loved it! I couldn't get enough of the goats!

Statistics:
Weight: 21 lbs. [24th Percentile]
Height: 31.5 in. [91st Percentile]
[Becoming a long and lean boy- just like his parents ;) ]
Nicknames: Zachy, Zachy Doodle, Doodle, Doodle Bug, Bugaboo
Likes: Being outside, Swinging, Closing and opening doors, Sweeping the floor, playing peek-a-boo, reading books, watching baseball with daddy, coffee table bowling with daddy, going on walks, pushing my motorcycle, walker, and high chair, talking, making animal noises, playing with all of my new birthday toys, music, walking, animals/dogs, being around other kids. 
Dislikes: Protein, being confined/strapped in for long periods of time. 
Clothing: Tops: 12-18 months. Bottoms: 12 months. Sleepers: 18 months. Diapers: Size 3. Shoes: Size 4

Milestones:
7th tooth [bottom right lateral incisor]: 4.2.14
8th tooth [top right lateral incisor]: 4.9.14
Words: Banana (Nanana), Ball, Pear (Perr), Bubble (Bub Bub), Dog (Do), Yum/Mmmm, Pop, Baseball (Ba-Ball) 
Animal Sounds: Cow- Moo/Boo, Growl/Roar (Lion, Dinosaur), Elephant- Berreerrr
1st Steps: 4.14.14
Walking: 4.20.14

One Year Pictures: 

 This was photo shoot #1. I was having a bad hair day ;)

 Photo shoot #2.

A Note from Mom:

Well my little Zach-a-Doodle, you are one year old. It is amazing how fast time has gone by. It feels like just yesterday you were still in the womb, and I was eagerly waiting your arrival. I still remember those last days of it just being your dad and me, nervously waiting going into labor, being at the hospital and giving birth to you, bringing you home and experiencing all of your firsts. I am so thankful that I get to stay home and spend every single day with you. I love that I get to witness the smallest things happening, although they are a big deal to me. I love interacting with you and playing with you every day. This past year has been a very big year in growth and learning, for not just you, but for your dad and I as well. There have been tears, frustrations, sleepless nights and challenges, but there has also been countless smiles, kisses, laughs, snuggles, new traditions and priceless memories. You have completely changed my life, for the better, Zach. I thank God every single day for you , because every day that you are in my life is such a gift. Before you were born I would try to think about what you would be like and what our life would be like together. You have exceeded all of my thoughts and expectations. You are so unique, so wonderful, so active and happy. So you. I wouldn't trade you for anything, Zach.

Happy Birthday, my sweet little toddler. Mommy loves you more than you will ever know!