Family & Micah's One Year Pictures {2016}

Coincidentally, Micah's one year and our family pictures fell on the same day, one year later, from the day we had Micah's newborn pictures taken. I honestly did not plan it that way, it just happened to be the best day for both our photographer and our schedules. Our pictures were taken at dusk at a local county park in the Nature Preserve and it was absolutely gorgeous. Our photographer was the talented Kathryn of Kathryn Bessette Photography. She is the sweetest nurse turned stay-at-home mom to three who started exploring photography when her first son was born. Such a cool story!  Prepare yourself for a dump of pictures, but I couldn't resist.
Family Pictures
This first one is my absolute favorite.

I'm so lucky to spend forever with this man right here. He knows me like no one else and still loves me unconditionally.

I could kiss these chubby baby cheeks for ever and ever.

Little man was intrigued with the electrical wires above our heads. So cute!

Momma's got dimples and baby's got smiles.

This is Micah's inquisitive face, his favorite face to make. I keep telling him that his face will get stuck like that, but he doesn't seem to care much. Ha!

Baby smiles, baby teeth, baby suspenders. Enough said.

I love this surprised face. Daddy looks pretty cute here, too.

Micah's One Year Pictures

Oh, this stuff is yummy!

I lovingly refer to this pose as "Grandpa's stance" because Khanh's dad always sits like this. When I tell Micah to sit down, he thinks this qualifies and won't actually sit on his bottom. I find it hilarious! 

That bow tie though!

He conquered the cake!

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!

I can't say enough "thank you's" to Kathryn. If you live in the Metro-Detroit area, I would highly recommend Kathryn Bessette Photography as a family and kid-friendly photographer.

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.