Jonathan is One!

Wow.  It has really been a whole year!  What a fabulous year it has been. We cannot imagine life without our boy. 

 Jonathan is as busy and active as ever and requires constant vigilance, despite our best efforts to baby-proof the house.  He quickly gets wherever he wants and absolutely must check everything out that he sees.  If anything is within reach, then he will find it and insist on holding it.  He is often seen on his tippy toes trying to grab whatever is on the edge of the table.  

Jonathan is now about 21 pounds. He has completely given up baby food. So long as he can grab it himself, he loves most everything we give him, especially if it is off of our plates.  He loves to clap, especially while we sing "If You're Happy and You Know It."  He can show us how big he is by holding up his arms, and he will occasionally tell us that he wants food by signing "more".  He is saying "mama" and "dada" and now clearly knows who he is talking about.  He babbles all day and comes up with his own interesting words regularly.   He is still the smiley-est little boy we have ever seen and he loves to give kisses.  Sadly, he also loves to show affection by biting us regularly.  Bath time is one of his favorite times of the day, and he still loves to cuddle and nurse with Mama.  He laughs often, and his silliest time of the day is right before bed when everything either brings him to laugher or tears.  

Here he is at one year, and here are some pictures from the last month.  

To our family, we can't wait to see you in just a few days for Jonathan's party in OKC!

So that you don't think Jonathan sits easily and lets us take his picture, here are a few early takes before we  got the one good one.  :)

Jonathan and Daddy about to go for a walk . . . .

One of my favorite outfits and favorite pictures!

Thanks to Andy's parents, we got to make a quick trip to Mississippi the first weekend in October, so Jonathan could meet his great-mamaw Connie. 

Andy is peeling shrimp with his uncle Ronny while his Uncle Cecil gets the boiling pot ready and Aunt Diane watches on . . . . 

Time to eat! . . . . We always have a shrimp boil when we're in Mississippi.  This year, Aunt Diane made homemade Butterfinger ice cream, too!

We enjoyed spending time with Mamaw at her place, and for the most part Jonathan was a good little traveler. . .

Son, you've got a bubble growing out of your head!

Jonathan is showing off, while Jason and Sara Henschel came over to watch a Baylor game.

Jonathan is holding a stuffed animal we call Baylor Bear.  We are trying hard to get Jonathan attached to him so that he has something else to bring him comfort besides his Mama and Daddy.

We love you Jonathan!

Stay tuned for a blog post about all of Jonathan's birthday festivities.  

11 Months

Writing this blog post makes me quite sad, because it means we are only one month away from Jonathan's first birthday. The year has gone so quickly.

Jonathan is doing great. He weighs around 20 pounds and he hardly looks like a baby anymore. He looks and acts much more like a little boy, and this seems to have happened just overnight. He is done with crawling and walks everywhere now -- quickly! He prefers table food over baby food (Andy says, "'prefers' is a polite way to put it!"), and he loves throwing some on the floor to the dog. He loves books more and more all the time and loves turning the pages for us. He has started dancing a little to music and will bounce up and down while giving us a huge smile. Jonathan is extremely curious and is into everything, and absolutely must touch (and usually taste) everything he sees.  Here he is at 11 months, and a few pictures from the past few weeks:

The usual picture (taken in Amarillo). It's quite a feat to catch him still these days . . . . .

Eating Spaghetti.  We think he liked it.  :)

Reading with Mommy.

Playing with Daddy . . . . .

Labor Day picnic and fun at the park.

Jennifer and Jonathan went to Amarillo to see Grandma and Grandpa.  This is in the DFW airport.  Jonathan loved being able to run around in the play area after being cooped up on the plane.  

This high chair was mine when I was a baby (originally bought for Melissa.)

My good friends Sky and Stacy were in town while we were in Amarillo.  Sky is currently in the States for 6 months on furlough.  She is a missionary in Zambia.  It was wonderful to have the time with these friends and to meet Sky's little girl River Belle.  River Belle is two days older then Jonathan.  

We kid about these two already being pledged to each other. Just in case it works out that way, though, this picture will be priceless!

J. and Grandma

Swinging in the backyard.

We had a great time with Grandpa and Grandma and can't wait to see them soon!