Nolan {1 year}

Holy moly, my little babe is one!! Wow, the time goes by much too quickly the second time around. Here's the last installment of Nolan's monthly baby updates. I will begin to change around the categories next month since he will really be a toddler then (so sad)!

Size: At his one-year check-up, he weighed in at 21lbs (22%), was 29.75 inches long (48%) and had a head circumference of 18.25 inches (48%). For clothes he's in 12 month, still able to wear 6-12 month but getting kinda short on him (12-18 still looks a little big for him). He's still comfortably wearing size 3 diapers in the day and 4s at night. He's in size 3 shoes and his 6-12 month shoes are almost getting too small!

Teeth: Oh yeah, this kid sprouted two teeth in practically the same day. They've been a very long work in progress but they eventually cut through the gums about 10 days ago. Nolan did have teeth by his first birthday! We weren't sure if that was actually going to happen! :)

Gross mobility: About two weeks ago, this kid finally got all the moves together and began walking!! That same weekend, he started pushing himself up into standing without holding on, too. It's definitely a "tot" walk with the arms all up in the air and he still falls down a good bit, but he can totally do it. And he's a little show-off with it too. He will crawl 80% of the way over to you, then stand up and walk the last 20% so he can crash into your arms or lap with a big 'ol grin on his face. Recently, he's started trying to walk across the room.

Fine motor: Favorite thing to do is point! He gets that little pointer finger going and directs it all around. He's beginning to show an interest in books by flipping pages and has really enjoyed the "pat the animal" books with all the sensory components to it. In the past week, he's been insisting on holding a spoon and making attempts at feeding himself. Randy and I were floored the other night when he was somewhat accurately feeding himself mashed potatoes (we put the food on the spoon for him). Seems like Jonah took forever to figure it out. Nolan has also found a recent fascination with stacking the rings on his toy and putting things in buckets, then taking them back out.

Communication: Let's just say he's put more effort towards physical development the past month! Nolan still isn't really "saying" any words yet. He can mimic a "dada" or a "mama" some of the time, but isn't using them. He has been showing interest in the clock and the light, pointing at it a lot, so maybe he's trying to figure out how to say those words. There's no doubt that he understands a lot of what we say, he's just not saying much back! :)

Sleep: Bedtime by about 8pm, awake by 6am on school days and sleeps in until about 7:15 or 7:30am usually. Naps are still a shorter one in the morning (maybe 30-45mins) and a longer one in the afternoon (2 hours or so). Sometimes those switch. At school, he's been all over the place though. Instead of his lovey at school, we started bringing his blanket and he seems to be napping a little better there so maybe that was the issue. He's a blankie lover like his big brother!

Feeding: No more bottle, no more formula!! We made the switch cold turkey about 2 weeks ago and he didn't balk much. We actually tried to go back to formula because there was a little left and he wasn't having it! Hasn't missed the bottles at all. Nolan eats all table foods and is getting better at feeding himself everything. He still has a pretty good appetite at most meals.

Personality: Oh that loveable red hulk has returned!! This past month, he's started having some tantrums--like screaming his head off for 5-10 minutes straight! We've been mostly ignoring it, trying not to encourage and enable this behavior. He's certainly a feisty little guy! Otherwise, he's such a silly kid and can be such a cuddly boy. There's no doubt he is full of energy and is going to be a handful as he gets bigger and more determined! He is very much stuck in the separation anxiety phase right now, too, which can be tough period!

Loves: blankie, Auggie doggy, pretzels, Jonah, Mommy, Daddy, Elsie, Kirby, animals, climbing, walking, milk, eating, bathtime

Dislikes: not getting picked up by Mommy or Daddy, too much rough play with Jonah, not getting the same thing as Jonah (oh yeah, coveting what Jonah has is a common issue these days--whatever we give to Jonah, we have to give to Nolan, too)

Happy first birthday, Nolan!