Happy Birthday!

Well, I have finally finished working on all the birthday pictures for Oscar's first birthday. It truly was a beautiful day. Watch the video of it!

I still cannot believe I have a one year old. It's wild. And it seems like every day he learns something new. This kiddo is amazing to watch. He is already starting to try to say things like the "ch" sound for "cheese" and "cheerios" - his favorite foods. He mimics back words like "cool" and "good" and points to and says things he knows like "kitty," "tree," and "car." He walks like a champ now, putting his hands at his side instead of holding them out for balance. He can even bend down to pick things up off the floor. It's hilarious to see this little person walking around everywhere. And he loves his play date buddies Katherine (3 yrs. old) and Christina (16 months) - he gave Christina a kiss last night even! He is already starting to stack blocks, which is a 16 month milestone, and he is fascinated with how things work. I love to watch him study things.

Oscar is growing like a weed. He is now over 30 inches tall and weighs a little under 20 pounds. He is eating better, too. He is "tolerant" of chunky food blends and loves crunchy things he can sink his teeth into. He just got his 6th tooth. He gets half and half of cow's milk and formula and just had his first taste of beef jerky. (He is just like his daddy where it comes to beef jerky.) Maybe soon, we might start practicing with a spoon... and yes, I've invested in a "splat mat."

Oscar really is starting to develop a personality, too. He is very opinionated and expressive about his likes and dislikes! He likes some lovies better than others, like his "Lambie" and his bear and just recently, he has taken a liking to Big Bird, which is just plain funny. At night he is even picky about which books he prefers to be read to. If he doesn't like the book you're reading him, he will reach to the back of it and close it. But if he DOES like the book, he will snuggle down onto your lap and clap after you finish reading it! But my favorite thing he does now is the way he expresses his love... He is a hugger. He stops in the middle of playing and walks up and gives a great big hug or lays his head on my lap. And it makes me melt to pieces. Gosh, I love this kid!

Happy birthday, Oscar!