Tater is a Tot! (12-Month Update)

Happy Birthday Tater!

Today you've been blessing me with your dimples for 1 whole year!  Today you join your brother into the wonderful toddler world.  I'm so excited about this!  My Tater is a tot!  This month had very special milestones.  At the beginning of this month, I handed you a wheeled walker and you just took off running!  And just 3 days ago you officially started walking on your own (cutting it a little close to your birthday, no?).  We also celebrated your cookie monster birthday early and you thought it was deeee-licious!

OTHER TATER TIDBITS

• You do this whiney grunt and point to things you want.
• You still put everything you can find in your mouth.  When will this oral fixation end? You even found an old pacifier and decided to give it a go for old time's sake
• Our funnest time together is tap dancing.  You love tap dancing and shuffling!
• Your aunt thought I'd made a mistake when I told her that you wear a size 6 shoe (so she could do some birthday shopping).  She took one look at the massive shoe at the store and bought something else since I had "clearly made a mistake" 
• You started climbing things but you still don't realize what it means to fall.  There's been a lot of "redecorating" at the house.
• You decapitated the nativity calf under the tree.
• You totally love Qori.  Sometimes I think you two need to get a room!
• Qori loves you too.  Especially since you started sharing your food with him this month.
• You've been more cuddley this month.  It's like you're trying to entice me to want you to stay a baby instead of turning into a tot.
• You love exploring the fridge.  The other day I left it open for a few minutes while I was cooking.  I later found an onion with little bite marks on it.
• You've discovered and have become addicted to the adrenaline rush of a good game of Chase
• You started standing up during bath time.  I'm not sure if you're picking this up from you co-partner in bathtime crimes: Diego (who always stands in the bath).

Here are some pics on how Tater's First Birthday party went down:

Tater is stunned:  Who are these decorations for?

Mama:  "Go ahead, go wild! I'll clean later."  Boys:  "What is this? It feels gross; I'll pass"

And they finally start to bite, not always just the cake though.

At first, Grandpa couldn't help but notice a resemblance to Adolf.  Then you went and gave yourself the devil's goatee.  Of course you did. 

Tater shows us how he keeps his immune system strong.

Diego blows out his brother's candle prematurely and we all have a good laugh and then try again.

Mateo enjoys his party while Qori helps with the gift wrap and big bro Diego is a self-appointed attacker of all helium balloons!

Happy Birthday Tater Tot! - Shirley

11-Months!

One month and you're officially a toddler!  Where has the time gone?  I've got to be honest with you though, I'm really anticipating your toddler years.  Although you are so cute, cuddly, and little right now, you actually HATE to be coddled and insist that I ALWAYS hold your hand so that you can walk around with support.  This month, you have grown from walking around with two-hand support, to only one-hand support, and then by just grabbing one-finger.  These are litterally your "baby-steps"

One of my favorite things you do is when I'm laying on the floor and you come crawling on me and hug me, and by "hug" I kind of really mean that you throw your body and face onto me (and sometimes even give a little bite).   Yeah - I'm not a fan of the biting part.  You also enjoy rolling on our bed although it still stresses me out because you don't realize what falling off the bed feels like just yet. 

Also, this month has really solidified your greatly-anticipated ability to sleep through the night!  Thank you, Lord!

OTHER TATER TIDBITS

• Yesterday you stood on your own and didn't even notice for about 30 seconds.  When you were 10 seconds in, there were already beads of sweat on my brow.  By the time you reached 30 seconds, I'd nearly passed out!
• Are you pointing AT things?  Or pointing FOR things?  You've picked up finger pointing somewhere along the way.  You mix a finger point with a Tater-grunt, and you've started communicating the things you want.  And boy... you want EVERYTHING!
• Favorite Pastimes:
• Swinging an open door back and forth.
• Reaching into the:  toy box, flower box, bathtub, and toilet (No Tater!  Ewww)
• The backyard is the place to be, even now that it's getting chilly.
• You've come to associate my finger with your ability to walk.  You deliberately look for my finger, grab it with assertiveness, and then your whole body language changes.  It's as if you say, "Good, got the finger.  So let's go now!"
• Bets are still coming in on when you will walk unassisted.  I'm not too confident that you'll be as good a walker as your brother was by his first birthday.  We have one month to go, and you're still a little floppy like a fish at times.
• You still love to eat, so your birthday theme will be Cookie Monster. (Oh and your tastebuds have matured to the point that you now REFUSE bland food!  Who?  Tater?  No way.  Yep - it's true, your palate only wants the good stuff now.) 
• You and your brother have a love-hate relationship.  When he starts to get a little aggressive, you hold your ground and don't take his crap.

MAMA'S TIDBITS

• I'm trying my best to be patient about your need for me to ALWAYS hold your hand while walking.  To stay sane, I've started to think of it as if you're in Rehab, trying to learn to walk again and I'm your physical therapist.  The more therapy time, the quicker you'll walk.  Yeah - it's a stretch but hey, it's got me up and walking with you!  I'm a great therapist.
•  I STILL haven't got my act together when it comes to exercise.  I smell a new year's resolution looming near!
• In my quest to balance work and home life, I'm on a new kick to get organized.  So far, so good!  It's really helping me spend quality time with the kids.  A separate post to come.

-Shirley