Almost 1!

May

I just can't believe that my baby is about to turn 1! This year has really gone quickly. However, it seems like Samuel has always been with us. I don't think there is anything that changes your life as much as a child does.
As an almost one year old Samuel is so much fun. I thought I'd write some of the important things that Sam is doing now to let everyone know about him and also to help me remember later. Here goes...

Playtime: Samuel loves to play. He especially loves his big red car that he rides in or walks behind. He has recently learned to throw balls and enjoys playing catch. He loves to be chased (crawling) and play peek a boo. His laugh is hearty and contagious.

Eating: Samuel wakes up every morning and has a bottle of formula (7-8 oz). We are about to lose the bottle in the next couple of weeks, however. He then has breakfast about an hour later which usually consists of his favorite cinnamon raisen toast and some type of fruit puree. He loves cherries, strawberries, peaches, and pears. Lunch and dinner usually consist of a meat, veggie, fruit, grain and maybe a dairy product. Some of his favorite foods are cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, fish or fish sticks (he goes crazy for them), Chick-fi-la Chicken strips, grilled chicken, and avocado. Veggies are not among his favorites but we can usually manage to get down some green beans or carrots without too much of a fuss. He drinks one sippy cup of whole milk in the afternoon and one with dinner. He is a pretty good eater!

Sleep: At this time Sam requires alot of sleep it seems. On his best day Sam will wake up between 6:00 & 7:00 am, be ready for nap between 8:30 & 9:30 sleept till 10:00 or 11:00, have another nap between 1:00 & 2:00 and wake up between 3:00 & 4:00. Back to bed around 8:00 PM. He goes to sleep with his lovey giraff in his sleep sack. At bed time we read a book or two then sing 3 songs, pray and lay him down. He usually goes to sleep without any complaint. He will occasionally wake up during the night, but he doesn't usually need anything, he might cry for a minute then go back to sleep. Sometimes I think he has an occasional night terror where he screams or cries and he isn't even awake. I just have to hope that he doesn't remember those things in the morning. He doesn't really wake up happy but after he gets his milk or moves to a different room he comes around and starts being his normal happy self.

Other stuff: Sam currently has 4 teeth shining through and he has learned to bite and pull his food. He walks around furniture, but isn't wanting to venture out on his own yet. Yesterday he said his first word! He was standing at my legs whining for me to pick him up, but I was cooking dinner and talking on the phone (multi tasking) and I didn't feel that he really needed anything when all of a sudden he said "Mama". I couldn't believe it because he was actually asking for me! Of course I picked him up then! He has never even come close to saying mama before, only dada but not really in the context of John or anything else.

He is such a cutie and we are so blessed to have him. We Thank God for Samuel and for the first year of his life! We are anxiouse to celebrate his birthday tomorrow at home and thenhis official birthday party will be on Saturday at our house with some family and friends!