Micah is ONE!

Today, at 1:01 pm, our baby boy turns ONE! This past year has been a whirlwind but I'm so grateful that God chose me and my husband to be Micah's parents. 

He is such an inquisitive, and mostly serious, baby, but when he smiles, his entire face lights up and you can't help but smile back at him.

Being a mom this past year has, hands down, been the hardest, yet most rewarding thing I have ever experienced. I know the challenges will undoubtedly keep coming through the years, but each challenge brings an opportunity to mold and transform our son.

A few of his favorite things are bananas, using sign language to ask for more food, bananas, running around the house with Daddy, bananas, playing in water, and more bananas. This boy's love for bananas runs deep! If he sees a banana and you don't give it to him, there will be a full meltdown coming your way.

It truly amazes me how much baby's can understand at such a young age. He thinks it's so funny when the Hubby and I hug or kiss in front of him. Most times, he runs over to us for a big group hug. It's pretty much the cutest thing ever!

Micah loves watching Cooper play fetch and walk next to the stroller. We are working with him to be more gentle to the dog, but Cooper just lays there and lets Micah hit him, pull an ear, or steal a toy. I'm excited to watch their relationship grow as Micah gets older and is able to actually play with Cooper.

Here's a dump of some of my favorite pictures from the past year.

Our little 6 pound 10 ounce baby is now a 19 pound toddler who loves exploring, giving kisses, and bananas.

I'll love you forever, little man!

Micah's 11 Month Check In

11 months. Let that sink in. It's true when they say the days are long, but the years are short. You are such an independent and curious little boy and I love watching you explore the world around you. Just last night, you sat in your highchair eating dinner and noticed the wind picking up outside. A few minutes passed as Daddy and I watched you stare out the window taking it all in. These simple moments are my favorite memories of us.

Meal time has been nothing short of an adventure this past month. You prefer solid foods now and refuse to eat any purees. Your favorite foods are banana, cheddar bunnies, hummus, and broccoli. Dropping your sippy cup on the floor is a fun dinner time game you've recently taken up. Cooper now lays right under your chair while you eat so he can snag any pieces that drop on the floor. This was the first time you had tomatoes and you loved them!

We went on our first camping trip as a family of 4 (yes, Cooper counts!) and you loved being outside all day, swimming in the pool, and...

eating dirt!

Mommy and Daddy got bikes this summer and finally got a bike trailer for you. We've gone on a few family bike rides and it's becoming one of your favorite activities - minus the helmet!

Here you are waiting to go on your first boat ride. Why do babies look so ridiculously cute in life jackets?

"Where to, Mom?"

The next three pictures depict the struggle of getting a decent picture during your monthly pictures. Life is never dull around the house with a baby on the move.

This picture really pulls at my heart strings.

Cooper's turn to try the sticker.

I'll love you forever, little man.

Micah's 10 Month Check In

I figured it's time to post an update on our little guy. I've slacked off since the last update and we haven't even taken his picture with the monthly stickers. Life is so much more exciting and less exhausting lately. Micah loves, loves, loves his Daddy and will laugh at almost anything he does. It makes my heart full, in ways I didn't even know existed, watching my Hubby interact and love on our son. I can't even believe that in a month and a half we will wake up one day and have a toddler living in our house. I've been embracing the phrase, "The days are long, but the years are short" more than ever these days. I always want to remember how much a little 6 pound 10 ounce baby we brought home from the hospital has forever changed our lives.

This boy loved standing in the bucket foll of water from the Cut. The water was not even 70 degrees, so we didn't want to let him sit in his floatie in the Cut, but this was just as good.

"How big is Micah?" "SO big!" He loves when we do this and will almost always stop whatever he's doing to raise his hands in the air. Do you think he knows he's cute?

Last month, we attended my college roommate's wedding, so our little guy got all dressed up. Nothing too fancy since it was an outdoor wedding, but his little outfit was adorable. He did so well the entire day and even fell asleep in his car seat at the reception, which was amazing!

Another "first" included eating broccoli with chopsticks. He knew exactly what to do and didn't try to chew on the chopsticks.

This boy loves to eat! He will eat anything we give him and then share a little with Cooper. His favorite foods so far are sweet cherries, broccoli, asparagus, and banana. I've also started using spices in his purée and he loves cinnamon and nutmeg. In the picture below he was eating sweet cherries. It's one of my favorite pictures. (Notice the cherry in his hair.)

I absolutely love being this little boys mom and can't wait to watch him explore the world in the coming years.

I'll love you forever, little man.

Micah's 7 Month Check In

Oh, how my little love bug is growing ever so quickly right in front of my eyes. I've never been more in love with anyone in my entire life and all of the emotions that come along with that are overwhelming - in the very best way.

You are finally sleeping through the night in your crib and, without fail, you roll to your tummy as soon as we lay you down. You always smile when I come to pick you up in the morning. After you've had breakfast, you are a little chatter box.

"What's that, Mommy?"

Jumping in your jumperoo and rolling all over the living room are your favorite daily activities. You love being outside and never make a sound in your stroller on our evening walks. This particular night, you were channeling your inner sexy cologne model.

You celebrated your first Easter this month and were so handsome in your little tie. We got to spend time with Nose Papa and Nose Grandma, where Nose Papa gave you Alfalfa hair. Our Easter weekend was jam packed with travels and quality family time with Daddy's family, too. On this day, you played in the church nursery for the very first time and were the hit of the nursery.

I just want to remember you in all your camo gear. Uncle Mike said, "Where's Micah?" when he saw the picture of you in the stroller in all camo. Ha!

Grandma and I had a girls night which meant you got to spend a few hours with Uncle Karl and Aunt Elysia. I'm not sure who had more fun - you or them! I'm so glad you were able to spend this special time with them. 

There were also a couple firsts this month. You ate Belgian Waffles for the first time that weekend and loved them. We went to Olive Garden for dinner and you were such a big boy sitting in a high chair and eating Puffs. Stop growing up so fast!

I hope you know how lucky you are to have Cooper in your life. He will always forgive you after you pulls his hair, he will always be willing to lick your bare feet, and he will always be there when you drop food on the floor.

I just love your smiley and inquisitive little self and can't wait to teach you all about life and how to be a gentleman.

I'll love you forever, little man.

Micah's 6 Month Check In

Oh, Micah man, I wish time would slow down. I cannot believe you are half a year old! Life is a lot more fun these days now that you are mobile and interact with us. I never want to forget the way I feel when you snuggle up on my chest, hold my finger, or laugh when I sing "How big is Micah? Soooo big!"

Mommy has a few nicknames for you, but I usually call you Punks. I used to call you Punkin, but one day started calling you Punks and it stuck. I'm not sure when I started calling you that, but I love that it's our thing. 

At your 6 month pediatrician visit, you weighed 15 pounds 12 ounces and were 26.25 inches long. You also had to get 3 shots in your thighs and only cried until Mommy picked you up. Way to be a trooper, Punks.

Grandma and Grandpa came to the Sea Life Aquarium with us and Grandpa may have enjoyed it more than anyone. You loved watching the sea turtle, fish, sharks, and sting rays swim around and we could have spent all day watching them.

We took the Baby Led Weaning approach and introduced you to solid foods this month. Bananas have been your absolute favorite food so far. You'd eat an entire banana if we would let you! You also started holding bottles by yourself!

You received your very first Valentine's card. All you wanted to do was eat it. Mommy put you in the Ergo and we walked to our voting location. Voting must be tiring because you passed out on our walk home.

You love to go explore the great outdoors and were so happy to be in the stroller for the first time.

This picture just cracks me up.

At the February Birthday party, you got to pet a bunny. Look how adorable you are in this outfit with matching shoes! Melt my momma heart!

"Mom, did you see that turtle?"

I never knew how much I could love someone until the very first time I saw you. When you tug at my shirt during nursing sessions, the way you stretch really big and stick out your lips after naps, watching Cooper wherever he goes, jumping in your jumper like a mad man are just a few things that I never want to forget about the last 6 months. I'll love you forever, Punks.