Samuel's First Birthday!

1 year old!

It is amazing to me that a year has passed since #6 Boy was born.  As I looked back at pictures of him as a newborn I remember how much has really changed in that time!  He has grown SO much (and not just physically).  He is now "off the charts" meaning that he is well above the 97% line that the doctors use to compare growth.  To be at the 97% for height and weight he would have to be 15 months old.

• Has all of his front 8 eight and has been working on breaking 4 molars
• Started to walk more but still mostly prefers crawling unless the distances is only a few steps away.  
• Jabbers and laughs a ton
• Stacks blocks on top of each other
• Uses a bottle at night but doesn't mind his sippy cup
• Drinking whole milk and not formula!
• Likes to wave goodbye
• Point at things
• Play with books
• Declare he is all done with his food by signing it and if we miss his sign he will start to drop his food on the floor
• Loves to cuddle with any stuffed animal or dolls (especially #5 Boy's dolls)
• When cuddling with Mom he will tuck his arms between his body and mine
• Enjoys hiding and popping out
• Loves his siblings 

Sweet Photos of #6 Boy!

 #6 Boy's birthday started out with his cousin's baby blessing and get together at their home.  That evening we invited both sets of grandparents over for dinner. Dad prepared a wonderful pot roast dinner.  We love that our table can get big enough to fit everyone around it easily!

Table is set!

 On your first birthday you get to have a whole cake all to yourself to discover, enjoy and destroy!

#6 Boy was excited about the candle and grabbed it

Thought "how dare you!"

and realized that it hurt!

Once he got over the pain he dabbled around in the frosting for a while

And decided that the table needed a hint of blue added to it...continually moving clumps of cake to the table with occasionally adding some to his mouth.

Then he discovered he could skip the middle 'man' (in the case hand) and go straight from plate to mouth with the cake.  He ate around the whole edge of the cake.

Then declared he was done...

and maybe felt a bit of a tummy ache...

but not enough to stop him for long!  He was ready to go at it a little more.  Ending with a big mess!

 Then we opened presents... and yes, I do mean "WE" opened presents.  #6 Boy had lots of help from each siblings.  They each wanted to help him open the gift they were giving him.

I love EVERYONE'S expression in this photo

 testing out his crazy straw

Nana and Papa watching with the rest of the crew

Papa and Grandma watching over the gift opening

Finally near the end the other children had enough toys to play with that #6 Boy was able to work on opening one on his own.

#6 Boy hugging his doll (also a first birthday tradition...do you know how hard it is to find a decent boy baby doll with out spending a ton...so yes, the doll is dressed like an Elephant!)

 playing with a remote car that has buttons on it.  He loved it even in the box!

But, he also loved the shiny bow.  Can't go wrong with the wrappings!

We are so grateful for our sweet sweet boy!