Last week we went to the doctor for Callan's 12 month appointment and like usual, he grew... A LOT!
His head stayed in the 70th percentile, but he grew another almost TWO inches! Ridiculous -he is still off the charts at almost 33 inches and I was also convinced he would be over 25 lbs, but he was just 24 lbs 4 ounces.
For reference:
9 months
31 inches, 22 lbs 10 ounces
6 months
29 inches, 21 lbs
4 months
27.5 inches, 18 lbs 2 ounces
2 months
26 inches, 15 lbs 14 ounces
Birth
21 inches, 8 lbs 2 ounces
So as you can see, he is a GIANT! A perfectly happy giant. We were given the green light to incorporate milk into his diet as well as honey, although they did mention holding off a little bit more on some of the high allergen foods, like shellfish and nuts. However, although Callan hasn't had these things directly, he has had things things that have touched them, so we think his allergy potential is low. So we'll proceed with caution, but aren't too concerned.
The one thing that is concerning is his sleep! Where has our great sleeper gone... sigh. One day he'll sleep through the night again. (I think). And we need to get him off the bottle. He's down to 1 or 2 a day, so I don't think it will be too hard, but Callan is stubborn and will only do it when he's good an ready. Welcome to life with a toddler!
I feel a little behind in my posting (I still have to update about Callan's first birthday party) and there definitely is a lot to update, but for some reason I've been dragging my feet on doing it. I can blame it on work and being busy, but I know it's more than that... maybe it's because once I post it becomes real and an indelible mark in history (however trite that might sound). But then it's almost like if you don't say it happened, and you don't remember, did it really happen? And since I have a terrible memory, this blog comes in handy to recall those little details.
Anyway, Callan is one. Yes, I realize he has been for over a week now, but I think it's only now sinking in. He's firmly entrenched in the toddler category and no longer teetering on the edge between baby and toddler. Although he still has dimples-for-knuckles, that may be one of the last pieces of babyhood he has (on a side note -I might cry a little when I wake up one day and find those gone) and he really is all toddler. He's starting to communicate more, and understands simple things we ask/tell him. And he knows what he wants, when he wants and is not afraid to let us know when something has displeased him. I like to say he's "willful" because he's so smart and knows what's going on, but honestly it is kind of just a pleasant way of saying when he's being b-r-a-t-t-y. I'm hoping that as he understands more and is able to communicate more, this will get better, but only time will tell. Speaking of communication, in the last month he has really picked it up a notch. Since he was little, we have used (somewhat inconsistently) a few signs with Callan and this past month, he has started to actually uses them to communicate with us. We started with the basic signs; more, eat, water. milk and all done, and now we're adding please, thank you, help, cheese, cracker and book. His favorite sign is more, since it usually is food related, but he'll also do it to signify again or to signal he wants more of whatever you have. He's also shaking his head no and pointing (and grunting) at things. It's amazing to see how his communication skills are improving and developing every day and although we can't really credit him with any real words, it seems like he's on the cusp of that too.
Callan has been walking for a little while, but all of a sudden, he seems like a real kid walking, and not just a baby learning how to walk. He loves moving around, climbing, and most of all dancing. I wish I could get a good video, because it may be one of the funnies, most adorable things ever. He's recently taken to dancing with his arms up, and he looks like he's ready for the clubs. His dance moves involve a lot of squats and bouncing, with an occasional twist thrown in. Callan is so entertaining and I love just watching him and interacting with him. I wish I had pictures and video of everything, because I know eventually I'm going to forget all these things and it's these small things that are so wonderful... like how he knows some of his body parts, but instead of pointing to his eyes, he'll squeeze them shut really tight and stick out tongue to show you, or how he'll put things in your hands when he wants you to open them or will take your finger and rub it on the books that teach babies about different textures, or how he'll take your hands and put them under his armpits when he wants to be picked up even though he's supposed to be lying down and sleeping, or how he likes to brush his hair or everything can be turned into a telephone and he'll just walk in circles while talking on the "phone"... There are a million of these little things that are so entertaining, but in and of themselves, unimportant, but things I don't ever want to forget.
Clearly we've had fun over the last year and I'm looking forward to the upcoming one to see what changes, challenges and adventures will come. I was hoping to have my video montage of the past year done by now, but I'm a little lazy, and getting photos from Huge proved to be more challenging than I thought. So instead I made a mini one with the pictures I had, which consisted of mostly iPhone pics... so it might not be the best, but it'll have to do (for now).
I still can't believe you're one... how the heck did that happen?
As I rocked you last night, I thought about how I used to sit there and hold you in one arm, with your head nestled perfectly in the crook of my elbow and your feet in my palm. And now a year later, your legs are all squished and oozing off the sides of the chair and your whole body sprawls across my body in a way that can't be comfortable, yet you still manage to fall asleep. I know you won't tolerate being held and cuddled as much the older you get, but I hope to always steal a few minutes of quiet time together because I will always have time for a kiss and a cuddle with you.
p.s. It already is getting hard to take pictures with you. I have a lot of these kinds of pictures where you just are trying to get away (or get whatever I'm holding).
Dear Callan-
Oh boy. A year ago (almost exactly to the minute) this little baby showed up for me to love and today I have this crazy, energetic, full of personality little boy. They say the first year flies by and holy moly, they are not lying.
When you first arrived and I got to see/hold/hear you for the first time, I was surprised by how calm the whole experience was for me. I've heard of people becoming overwhelmed with emotion - bursting into tears because of their overwhelming love or anxiety due to the sudden realization of becoming a parent, or finally realizing the full magnitude of how their lives have changed, etc and I was surprised at how I didn't feel any of these things. It actually concerned me a little bit, but then I realized it wasn't because I wasn't overwhelmed with my love for you, it was more because you made sense and fit into my life. It was like finding something you lost before you realize you lost it and you were the missing piece of my life that filled the gap before I even knew it was there. It just seemed natural to have you and even though my life has never been, and never will be the same, I can't even fathom it without you in it. I can't imagine what I would be doing without you and I know that my life would just be a shadow of the life I know now.
Many people wonder about their legacies, about the meaning of their lives or what they are worth... and with you, I don't have that doubt or wonder. I know that you are going to be an amazing person because even though you are only a year old, I can already start to see the person you are going to become, and I know that you are going to be someone I will always be proud of, and more importantly someone you will be proud of being. I hope that I am the mom you need and deserve and can help you grow and develop into that person. Every life will have some bumps, but I hope yours are small. I won't be able to prevent you from making mistakes, but I will be there to help you recover from them and learn from them. Already you have turned into this kind, funny, generous, loving, good natured boy and the world, especially mine, is better off from having you in it.
Happy birthday Callan! You are the best little boy anyone could ask for and I am constantly awed by you. This past year has been amazing and I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for us -I don't know exactly, but I do know that we are in for some great adventures. I love you forever and always.
Wow, this post is late... I wanted to write a recap about our first Easter, but then I realized that this wasn't actually our first Easter as a family.... Even though Callan isn't quite a year yet, he was here for Easter 2011 -in fact, he was 3 days old and we were discharged from hotel Prentice that day. Look at this muchkin getting ready for his first car ride home!
And now look at him this Easter -he's such a different person.
Anyway, Easter 2012 was a great success! The Easter bunny came and gave Callan a stacking train toy and some empty Easter eggs (don't tell him that there's usually candy in those eggs as he was more than happy playing with the empty ones). Callan decided that Easter was so exciting and pretty much refused to nap all day (finally got him down for an hour nap -but for reference he usually takes two naps and sleeps closer to 3-4 hours during the day), but he was still pretty great. We had the Cassidy-Bach's come over for an afternoon play date and then our friend Denis along with the Martin family came over for dinner. It was the first weekend Huge had been home for awhile, so it was nice to spend the time together with friends and family, and overall a great Easter. weekend.
The park near our house hosted an Easter egg hunt and I thought it would be a fun event to go to with Callan especially since it was supposed to be around 70. Unfortunately it ended up being a bit chillier and in the 50s, but still nice enough to run around outside. When we got to the park there were a ridiculous amount of kids and the park was covered with brightly colored plastic eggs. The event started at 11 and by 11:15 the park was picked clean! Callan got a few eggs, but he was more interested in running around with the basket. Sadly his mama's a bit of a slacker so the basket was a last minute idea and the one we used was a little big so he had to hold it above his head to keep it from dragging on the ground (and tripping him). He's at the stage where he loves putting things in and out of things and trying to figure out how things go together, so he loved putting the eggs in the basket and playing with the egg halves. I would say that the first Easter Egg hunt was a success.
Friday Callan had his alone day with Adelia and they decided to go check out a play space since the weather was so crummy. Callan loves running around with older kids and he loves playing with new toys, so this was the perfect outing for a rainy Friday.
Um, does this thing go any faster?
Adelia said Callan was a big fan of these girls (and the shoe rack that you can see behind them.) Luckily they seemed charmed by him and allowed him to play with them.
Callan loves bouncing and rocking -I guess he kept trying to get on and off this himself. He clearly thinks he's older and more skilled than he is!
This week Luke is in Florida (lucky boy) so Callan will get a whole week with Adelia. I wonder what kind of adventures he'll have.
