Chase - 12 months

It's hard to believe my little boy is 12 months old. He has really developed such a huge personality. He has stolen all of our hearts and complements our family perfectly. Our sweet Chaser.

Here's a little recap on what the munchkin has been up to lately.

His vocabulary currently consists of: Mama, Dada, Ball, No, and Duh (Done). He can also sign "all done". Well, it's sort of more like hand flailing, but it's definitely intended to mean "all done".

He's a big eater. Each meal takes anywhere from 20-40 minutes as he plows through his food. He loves fruit, especially pears, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and mandarin oranges (LOVES THESE). He also loves avocado, cheese, meat, salmon, bread, eggs, peanut butter, beans (green and black), crackers, and pasta. We started him on whole milk and he can't get enough. He still takes 3 bottles and I limit them to 7 oz. each. If I didn't, I think he would just keep drinking that milk! He's been doing great on a sippy of water and gets really excited when he sees me filling it up.

He's pretty much down to one nap a day. Every once in a while I'll try him on two naps. He'll always fall asleep for his morning nap and then it's half and half on whether he actually falls asleep for his afternoon nap. He'll stay in his crib for 2+ hours if he doesn't fall asleep, which is nice for me to maintain my "mommy time" as they both nap (or in his case - rest), but I don't think we're going to try for the 2 naps anymore. If I put him down for 1 nap, he'll sleep 2 1/4 - 3 1/2 hours, and though I can tell around 10am that he could easily fall asleep, he gets a second wind and does just fine (a little more needy/clingy) until his 1pm nap.

He goes to bed around 6-6:30pm and sleeps for 13-14 hours.

He wears a size 4 diaper and mostly 18 month or 18-24 month clothes, though he's kind of all over the board with clothes, depending on brand and style. He can still fit into a few GAP 12-18 month onesies, but they're getting difficult to snap. His 12-18 month GAP Jeans are flooding on him but 18-24 month need rolled up. I actually had to put away an 18-24 month Gymboree romper the other day, as well as two size 18 month Carters Rompers.

He wears a size 5 or 5 1/2 shoe. If he were walking, I think the 5 would be best but I went ahead and bought a pair of 5 1/2s recently because I know he'll be grown out of the 5s shortly.

It is extremely difficult and frustrating to change his diapers and clothes. No one likes to do it. Enough said!

He has 8 beautiful pearly whites. His front two teeth may or may not end up gapping due to his oral frenulum but I am actually leaning towards not.

He is starting to sit still for books and especially likes the "touch and feel" ones.

He loves to play peek a boo. He prefers balls and cars/trucks to most other toys. Though, if his sister were a toy, she would be his favorite one. :)

He is standing a lot and starting to walk behind things.

He LOVES kisses. If he is being kissed, he leans into it and seems to take it all in. He also reciprocates with mouth-wide-open, slobbery kisses. He giggles and smiles all the time.

He has a lovey. It's a brown owl, made out of a microfiber material. Over a two week period, I introduced him to several potentials (taggy blankets and other lovies) and this one was the winner. (Congratulations, Emily!) He clings onto it while sleeping (a lot of times he lays on it). The only bad thing is that he sucks on it, so it gets a little stinky. I have been known to wash it daily and sometimes twice a day!!