Can it be ONE YEAR already?

Seriously, was it a year ago that Jim was on a mission trip and I was in labor?
A year ago that we looked longingly down at a Very Small bundle of Boy Joy?


And now -- a year later--- this is our bundle of joy:

A moving, grooving football star.

Who screeches more often than we like, but those smiles make up for it!

Technically, it's not a year until Friday. But we're traveling and all, and I might be spending all my online time on the FB farm instead of blogging. It is summer, after all.

HEY! If you're not making it to one of his birthday parties, will you PLEASE email me a photo of you & yours wishing him a happy first bday? This week? Thanks, you are the BEST relatives ;)

To Stand or Not to Stand?

It really isn't a question, more of a developmental choice. Check out Kaden's newest pastime...

None of these last very long, but still... he looks rather pleased with himself, don'cha think?

Adventures Beyond 22 Inches

We've had a busy week, Kaden and his keepers. First was the passport application... which had to be done "in person." Further proof our boy is a prince? He was allowed to sleep through the entire interview whilst BOTH parents had to answer!

The 2 funniest things were his actual passport photo (which I forgot to copy for your viewing pleasure)... and the answers on the application form. Quite a few times I had to ask: "Um, what should I write here?" For example: occupation. (Child, she answers and then chuckles. Though they should be able to figure that out from his photo.) Height? (Whatever he was at your last doctor visit, she says. Even though he'll obviously grow by the time you use this.) I look blankly at Jim-- we had brought a plethora of papers with us, but not the well visit forms. "22 inches" Jimdad says authoritatively. (Later, he confesses he made it up. Actual current height- 28 inches.)

I felt like I was making things up, too. Hair color? Written answer- brown. Actual answer: light brown on most days, but sometimes a little lighter. Eye color? written answer- hazel. Actual answer: depends on what he's wearing and how the light hits them. THIS is his security and ID document for the next 10 years???

If you've been keeping track, the babe is TEN months as of last Sunday. I've realized that Baby Einstein videos will slow the move-at-all-times tendency. That doesn't make for straight on smiles, though. But if I take 22 pictures, eventually he comes through!

He's also making good use of those 22 or 28 inches. I'm guessing he can stretch 'em out to, oh, maybe 40 inches or so? At least that's what it seems like as we continue to babyproof higher off the ground!

And while I haven't gotten any good photos of it, quite a few times this week he's been STANDING all by himself! It's for maybe 3- 12 seconds, but still. As the week's gone on, it's happening more and more often. Today at a friend's house, he used their kiddie picnic table as his own personal jungle gym-- climbing up, sitting down (the correct way!), standing on the bench, standing on the table, climbing under, getting stuck under... all with me close by, of course, but man. That kid likes to explore!