Do I really need any words for this post?

Happy 1st Birthday George!

We love you dearly.

XOXO

I want to say that it flew by but I'd be lying.

It definitely feels like a year.  In fact it seems like ages ago that George IV entered this world.

It wasn't easy having a newborn for the first time with a two and half year old.  In fact, it completely knocked me off my feet.  I had no idea.  No idea how hard it would be having two.

On top of that he was a tricky baby, a collicky one I guess.  Particular.  Where nothing could calm him.  Or what calmed him was downright exhausting.  Bouncing.  Not gentle bouncing. No, very rigerous bouncing,  one where you could break a sweat. 

Then the teething started at 4 months and didn't stop until the end of his first year.  The kind of teething where each and every tooth coming in required an enormous amount of drugs.

Don't get me wrong.  I love this child more than anything.  Truly love, love, love him.  Adore him.     Once the fifth month arrived it all got so much better. 

He started to smile, play, interact, and we had small breaks between all of the new teeth.

We got into a really good routine and stuck with it.  We learned that he needed serious structure and that he doesn't do well with change.  We revolved our lives around his schedule and it made us all the happier doing so.

It seems like he has changed in the final month of his first year.  Almost as if he's just a relieved as we are that we made it through the first year.  I think he was really miserable with those teeth.   

9 months

He is the apple of our eyes.

10 months

He delights us every single day with the little personality we see emerging.

11 months

He is gentle, sweet, serious and funny.  Very funny little sense of humor.  And a whole lot of stinker.  

12 months

He got 8 teeth in his first year and took his first steps a week before his first birthday.   We made it the whole year without any antibiotics and on his birthday he got an ear infection.  We decided to postpone celebrating  until this weekend when he was feeling better.  

We had wonderful day, I'll be back soon to post those pictures!

Spring was definitely in full swing in St. Louis.  Nani's peach tree was in bloom!

We had rain one night but woke to a very sunshiny day.  Magnolia declared this as puddle day!  We took a walk and she got to jump in as many as she could find.  It never occured to me that we don't have puddles in suburbia...one more thing to look forward to moving to the city.

These were taken in the the alley behind Nani's house.   If you look to the right you'll see someone's yard has a forest of bamboo, it's spectacular!

Much to Magnolia's delight, the magnolia trees were in full bloom.

What a great walk down Limit's Walk.  Love that pep in her step!

Next stop was  Elizabeth and Rob's new house.  It's adorable and going to be even cuter when they are done with a massive renovation.

I'm not sure I've seen a face sweeter than this.  Miss Madeline is a complete and utter doll.  I just loved seeing her!

Here she is wearing her new sunhat for the first time and hamming it up.

Meanwhile George takes Nani for a walk through their backyard.

Okay, one last picture of baby and mama.  They are so cute!

Spending most of our days in Nani's front yard we learned of a neighborhood easter egg hunt and are urged to come along.  We did and what fun it was!

Even though George didn't find any eggs, he had a blast.  Perhaps because he could feel the warm air and sunshine on those chunky thighs???

Well, that and his daddy was giving him a whole lot of loving.  

('ll be back soon with the big event that happened this week!)

Easter in St. Louis was beautiful!  We went to the family farm for lunch and an Easter Egg Hunt.  The weather was spectacular.  We had a wonderful time!  

I could not get George to look at me for a photo, he was so intrigued by the daffodils.

By late afternoon George and cousin, Madeline, were exhausted.

Magnolia loved the Easter Egg Hunt.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter celebration.  I'll be back soon with more photos from our trip!

Spring has sprung here and it's the first time I think I've ever experienced a spring in Wisconsin.  It has been pure delight.  So unexpected.  I never had time to whine about the lonnnnng Wisconsin winters.  We've had two straight weeks of sunny skies, warm temperatures and George makes his first visit to the sandbox!

Magnolia has been busy with sidewalk chalk, balls, and most recently...a new bike.  (photos to come!)

The forsynthia branches hardly needed much forcing indoors.

George continues to push his wagon.  He doesn't seem to mind the feeling of grass on his feet and puts far less things in his mouth outside than he does inside.  He got his first pair of walking shoes and I feel like his first year went by way too fast.

Showings on our house have slowed and as a result  we've slowed our house hunting in Milwaukee until we get more activity on this end.  Bummer because it sure is fun to house hunt.  I've been busy sprucing up the outside and just enjoying these first days of spring with Mags & George.  Hope the sun has been shining where you are!

George turned 11 months last week!  I cannot believe we are soon to be celebrating his first birthday!  

Sometime a couple of months back he decided he hated bathtime.  The only way we could give him a bath without screaming and trying to climb out of the tub was to put him in the sink.  This is how he's been taking baths ever since.  I'm afraid he's going to be outgrowing that sink in no time though!   He is busy walking along furniture these days and climbing the stairs.  We've had gorgeous weather here and I pulled out Magnolia's old Radio Flyer and put a bucket in it to weight it down and he loves to push this around.  I think I'm going to have a picky eater on my hands.  He loves to throw his food, spit it out when he doesn't like it and seem to only want bread or noodles.  Oh how I've been spoiled with Magnolia eating the lettuce off my plate!  He continues to love to wrestle, his balls, and quiet time.  He loves the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and tries to do the hand movements when I sing it.  He's working on his shape sorter and putting things inside of things and dumping them back out again.  If I say "choo choo, " he'll find his train and bring it to me.  He pulls cords out of the electrical sockets and chews the cords. He pulled toilet paper out of the toilet the other day and was eating that.  He gets into the dirt in the plants and knows how to take the cabinet lock off the cabinet under the sink.   He keeps me BUSY!    If Magnolia takes a long nap he will cry and fuss until she wakes up and then becomes dramatically happier.   Happy 11 months George IV, you are such a stinker and I love you!