Andrew's First Birthday

I can't believe my baby boy turned one!  The time has really flown the past 6 months.  I really can't call him my baby boy anymore... he is definitely a toddler!    He walks everywhere!  He first started taking a few steps at 10-11 months but started "really walking" (20 steps or more in a row) in Utah a month ago and now he is really going places & he is getting faster!  Video as promised...

Andrew has really progressed and learned so much in the past month!  He can say Uh-Oh, Ah-Choo, Puppy, Bear (Be), Bottle (Baba), More (in sign), & ball.  He understands alot more words and understands what to do when we give commands.  He gives kisses and loves to dance to music!  He loves to read books with us and turn pages!  He gets so excited every time he sees or hears a dog!  He loves to pick up, throw, and kick balls (true boy) but also loves hugging his teddy bear and his stuffed puppy! He loves bath time (which is basically naked playtime to him)!  He only takes one belated morning nap a day now (so sad to see the second nap go).  He is an early riser, but goes to bed early & sleeps all night long... so that is nice for us!  I just love this little boy.  He is a very sweet part of my life.
I went up to Swan Valley a few days this week to help out at CMM.  I am grateful for the help I got so that I could help out at such an amazing place.  I was there most of the day and didn't get to see my boy only for a few hours in the morning.  It was really hard I don't know how all those working moms do it!  I truly missed being home with him.  I came home each night with a greater appreciation for being able to stay at home with my sweet boy..  I love being his mommy and really feel like I am living my dream.  Thank you Andrew, for making my life better I can't wait for the next year!

About a week ago, we went and took his birthday pictures.

All he wanted to do was this:

Notice those cute shoes GG gave him
for his b-day...he loves them!

We got some great pictures...

He loves this chair btw.

The balloons didn't last very long.  

I tied them to his arm after

 taking these pictures and Houdini

 got them off, with this as a result:

Good-bye balloons

But that is okay... we got some other cute ones.

For Andrew's birthday we mostly stayed at home and made cupcakes.  We made fun plans at the Zoo for the next day.  We went out after his nap (which was a really good one btw) to visit Jorgene, my old piano teacher.  She really is so much more than just a teacher to me, she is one of my greatest friends.  We had a wonderful visit & I'm so glad I was able to see her again before we leave.... but also more sad than ever to go because we had such a good time.  She is a wonderful women.
We came home and hurried to decorate & frost cupcakes.  We had our family favorite for dinner... Pizza Hut (pan style crust).  Then it was time to have cake!

MMMmmm...

 Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Boy!  We love you!
Your personality and smile brighten each day!