Happy First Birthday!

Dear Levi,

Last night when we put you to bed you were our baby, a very big one, but a baby nonetheless. Today you woke up as a toddler. How exactly did that happen? I can't quite come up with a good answer. As I think back I remember a lot of time spent dealing with feeding you, changing you, cleaning you, and trying to get you to sleep. There were a lot of silly faces, silly noises, and silly games. We both shared lots of smiles, laughs, and tears. It must have been in the midst of all that activity you grew out of being a baby.

Last year at this time there wasn't a 'little tikes' basketball hoop in the living room and a Jumperoo in the fireplace room. Your Dad and I regularly walked thru the kitchen without stepping on Cheerios. Canned goods stayed in the lower cabinets, folded laundry stayed in the basket, and when I left the house it was with only nonchalance and my purse. Life sure is different now and I wouldn't change a thing. Over the past year I have experienced being the most happy, the most worried, the most perplexed, and the most content I've ever felt in my life. I'm still caught off guard sometimes by the intensity and fierceness of my emotions when it comes to you. I will do everything in my power and then some to make sure that you are taken care of.

Last year on this date I did the hardest work I've ever done. What relief to have you born and to lay eyes on our baby. I'll never forget watching your Dad hold you for the first time. You were perfect and healthy and such a stranger to us then. It's wonderful to know you so well now. I'm sure you've noticed how much your Dad and I adore you. That will never change.

With love,

Mama

Levi and Ruby's first Election Day

Levi and Ruby have found this election to be much too polarizing. They say, "Kiss and make up"

Little Ben

Silhouette

Apple Party

Last weekend we went to Kelsy's annual apple party. She brings back bushels of apples from her parents farm then cooks up a multitude of delicious apple desserts and invites a million people over to share them. Here she is posing by SOME of the spread. It's a favorite fall tradition. Last year I was 9 months pregnant. This year I was much more comfortable but much more active as I chased Levi around making sure he didn't stick his fingers into other people's apple pie.

Stats

Levi is modeling shiny band-aids on his chubby little thighs. He had his 1 year well baby visit with Dr. Hilary on Friday. There were some crocodile tears after the immunizations but other than that he had a fun time. After all, at the doctor's office there were all kinds of things to explore, lots of stuff to try and grab, and several nurses to flirt with. He shocked us all when he didn't make a peep while they were drawing blood. Also, Levi is in the 100th percentile for his height and 75th percentile for his weight.

Little Friend

Yesterday we celebrated with our friends, Adam and Amy. Their little girl, Addison, had her first birthday party. Levi and Addison were born just a few days apart and it's been fun to go through so many of the same experiences in pregnancy and babyhood at the same time.

Happy Halloween

Thanks for letting Levi use your costume, Ruby!

Riding Toy

Here's Levi at the window pushing his cars along the sill all while riding his new toy. A word on his colorful outfit: it was chilly that morning so I put his sweatshirt over his pajamas. As you can see by the second picture, Levi is still mastering the technique of dismounting.

Dump Truck Driver

Fall Fun in the Front Yard

The weather turned nice and warm today so Levi and I spent some time in the front yard. He liked walking around in the crunchy leaves. I had to be on high alert, however, because after examining the leaves and sticks he wanted to examine them with his mouth.

In this picture he's trying to crawl up on me so he can get the camera.

This one was me trying to take a picture of the both of us. The matching expressions were unintentional.

Fun Weekend

We had a great weekend and got to celebrate Dad Dickson's birthday again. These three in the picture above are laughing at his gloriously lit birthday cake. There were no birthday candles in the house so we used a tea light. No one is ever going to mistake me for Martha Stewart. Do we get points for improvisation?

TGIF- Levi narrates...

"How about a hug?"

"I'm getting so good at my sippy cup that Mom and Dad have used it to replace two of my daily bottle feedings."

"This time I think I can get my hands on the camera"

"I'm a happy boy."

"Is Daddy home yet? I don't see his truck."

Marathon

We went this morning to watch Aundrea and Chuck who were running in the Kansas City half-marathon. We camped out at the 10 mile mark with Joel, Kelly, Ruby, and Ben who were there to see their friend. It was a lot of fun cheering and clapping for the runners. Aundrea looked very strong. Somehow, though, Chuck ran past without us spotting him.Levi was content for awhile to watch the runners while being held by his Daddy but before too long wanted to get down and explore.
This is a picture of the cousin greeting ritual. They are always very excited to see each other. There are many hugs given and Ruby always ends up saying, "Levi slobbered me!!" Ruby especially enjoyed giving the runners high-fives.

Cute Cousins