The Big "ONE"

Our big boy Jake,

Where has the last year gone? It still seems just like yesterday that God brought you to us. This time last year we were at the hospital getting ready for you to come into the world! I remember every minute. I remember first hearing you cry, and it made me cry. I remember when the nurse first brought you to me. You were wrapped up like a little space man, :) and the first thing I thought was how heavy and warm you felt on my chest. The next thing I thought was how much you looked JUST like your daddy! You were so calm. You weren't crying, you were just looking at me like you knew who I was. I will NEVER forget that moment.
Then we brought you home and you have forever changed our lives! What would we do without you? I can tell you that we would definitely not be as happy as we are now with you!
And now you have turned into such a big boy! You're saying all kinds of words...dog, doggie, kasey, daddy, mommy, woof woof, duck, hi, hey, bye, vroom vroom, uh-oh and a few more but those are the most frequent! And we are shocked at how much you already understand. We can ask you what a doggie says, and you say "woof woof," we ask you what a lion says and you say "grrrrr," and we've just started monkey and you respond by bouncing up and down saying "oh oh oh oh!" It's amazing how you have been able to tell the difference between the three animals. I'm trying to catch it on video, but every time I pull it out you get more interested in the camera than what we're trying to get you to say!
Oh! And you also say "two, three." Grandma McCloskey has always counted to five then tickled you! You think it's so funny. But now when we start to count, we'll say "one, then you say "two" "three", and we say four and five!" It's so cute!

You're walking like it's no big deal and you're actually starting to try and run! Woah! Don't know if mommy is ready for that, I can barely keep up with you now!

Sometimes you think you're bigger than you really are. When we go to the grocery store, or anywhere with a cart, you want to push it! And now anywhere we go you want to be down so you can walk. Which is hard at times because you don't understand that everything at your eye level is not yours to play with! :)
For your birthday Papa & Grandma got you a big boy bed. You think it is so fun! You've been slowly starting to sleep in it. You take all your naps in it and you have slept in it all night for about a week. You do so good! It's like you understand that it's a new special thing. And the nights you've slept in it you're just fine! When you wake up in the mornings you don't cry or whine like you sometimes would in your crib because you wanted out. You just get up and we can hear you in your room playing with your toys!
You love other babies and always want to play! Just this past month you started going to the nursery with the other 1 year olds during church. You really love it! And the teachers in there always tell us how good you are! You still love being read to, but a lot of times you will go flip through ALL of your books yourself. :) You like to point at every picture and wait for us to tell you what it is.
You know where your head, ears, and nose is. You're just so smart...and I'm so thankful for that!! We're so proud to see what new things you learn everyday.
You started this funny thing...you will go get a toy, usually a ball, and go sit in the tiny space between the ottoman and the wall. I was picking up around the house one day and I could hear you but couldn't find you! And when I did it was so funny! I thought at first you might have been stuck, so I pulled you out and you hurried as fast as you could back in there!
Oh and I can't forget to mention your favorite puppy dog! Oh my goodness how you love your Kasey! You would follow her around all day if you could. And, if she'd let you, you would probably lay on her all day. You don't really want to play with her, you just want to cuddle. She loves you too...I think it's because you, a) always have food in your hand or on your body somewhere! b) drop down your food to her when you eat...you think that is just hilarious! or c) you leave a trail of food crumbs everywhere you go. :) I have a feeling you two are going to be big buddies the older you get.
Seems like this month has gone by quicker than all the others. I keep hoping it will slow down! But as much as I miss your tiny baby days, I'm excited to continue learning with you!
Happy one year baby boy. Daddy and I are crazy about you...and don't you forget it!

(Party stuff to come soon!)