12 months: A full year of Malcolm

After a full year, we still continue to have moments of "wow." "Wow look at our baby." "Wow listen to our baby singing." " Wow look at our baby talking." "Wow look at our baby walking." "Wow look at our baby figure out how to open the cabinet ." "Wow look at our baby smile his toothy smile." "Wow look at our baby who's not so much of a baby anymore."




When we look back on the year some times feel as though they flew by and other times seemed to crawl by slowly. It's never been dull and it's peppered with lots of special times.

Just when we think we have the hang of one stage, he moves into another stage we need to figure out. We think we get good at it, but then there is something new to make us feel like we don't really get it. Yet. Or maybe ever.

Malcolm has been in great health. He eats well, sleeps through the night now, and he loves to play. On the growth chart he's at the 3rd percentile, so a bit short. We've met a few kids who are younger than him and taller than him. It doesn't bother him. He still as smiley as ever showing off his eight teeth. He makes friends with anyone who will smile back to him. He's gotten full tables of people to wave at him when we eat out.


We've had lots of firsts this past month. Malcolm can sign "more" and "milk" which is helpful while we eat. Officially, Malcolm's first word is "car." But we like to think that in his babbles he also says "mamamama" and "dadadada" with as much meaning as he says car. He says car whenever he sees a car or bike or truck. He usually follows up car with "brrrroom." And when he says car, its often whispered. Of course it's cute. He also will pant like a dog and make monkey noises. He also knows where your nose is and will point it out.

His second word is "hot." He says this whenever we're cooking at the stove or using the oven. I don't think that he understands what is hot and when we stir something cold, he stills says hot. He will also point to the lights and says "on," when he wants to turn the lights on.



His first words were followed by his first steps. Right around his first birthday he decided to move between tables and couches on his own, first taking about three steps and then progressively taking more. Now there isn't anywhere he won't go. He still walks with his hands in the air and he'll take a tumble now and then, but he gets around more quickly every day with his little steps. Which means we have to keep a closer eye on him.


Malcolm also went through another first before he reached his birthday. We discovered he had an inguinal hernia on both sides of his body and needed surgery. It was an outpatient procedure and he did so well. He was basically back to himself after a day or two. His little body healed pretty quickly and his spirits were up by the next day.



Now that Spring is here, we're able to be outdoors again. One recent afternoon when Paul and I were standing in our backyard chatting about our day with Malcolm in his arms, a flock of birds flew overhead. They caught Malcolm's eye and as he watched them fly by he exclaimed, "ahhh." The type of "ahhh" that goes up in pitch because the experience is something new and pretty amazing. Our conversation stopped. And that was our "wow" moment of the day.

Y'all ready for this?

Auntie Laura and Uncle Mike sent Malcolm a birthday card that plays music. (The same music that inspired the subheading for this blog.) Now DJ Diapa-Fresh can mix it, so turn up the volume and dance along.

curly hairs and funny faces

After a recent bath, we found that Malcolm's hair could comb into a mohawk. And not just any mohawk, but a curly mohawk. As his daddy said, "he rocked the mohawk."




Then baby and daddy played "made a funny face, made you laugh."






Clearly they both win.

Malcolm turns 1!

Even though he just turned one, Malcolm got two birthday celebrations with grandparents (and with aunts and uncles and cousins birthday wishes sent via skype and phone).









The celebrations included happy birthday songs and CAKES!












And he opened presents and tried on clothes


And what he loved most was the grandparent time.

Cousins on ice

Malcolm joined Uncle Matt, Auntie Katie and the cousins on the ice for a little skating ride in the park.

But Malcolm and I are looking forward to when that ice is green space again.

That time of year.

Someone's a little tired of the snow...

10 & 11 Months: My how time flies!

Two months get one post. But not because they weren't eventful. Actually they were too eventful. The past two months blur together with all our family gatherings and travel. Malcolm loved it all. He got into the family time, because family time means extra hugs and lots of kids.With so much going on, there's not as much computer time. And that's not a bad thing. Plus, Malcolm is more "hands-on" these days. His hands are on everything he can get to as he ramps up his explorations.



So here are some of the events and growths and surprises during the past two months.






Malcolm helped decorate his first Christmas tree. And actually, it's our first tree of sorts as we got a real tree this year and left the "charlie brown" tree we bought when we first married in the box.





Malcolm loved to explore the lights, tree skirt, ornaments, and wrapping paper. We didn't put garland on this year because he liked to put that in his mouth and apparently eat it as was evident in his poo. The Christmas poo sparkled green and red. So we thought it best to pass on the garland this year. But the tree looked great, and with its gently twinkling lights it served as a midnight soother as Malcolm stared at the tree when he needed a little calming to get back to sleep.


During this time he improved his crawling and cruising. He's pretty fast and makes a bee line for things like his diaper pail, the toilet, the garbage can, and the fireplace. He loves to go up stairs but doesn't understand the height or the dangers. He likes to practice opening and closing doors, cabinets, the dishwasher, dryer, and lids.




Now when he stares out the front window he adds a bang on the window. He loves to bang on, well, everything. He also likes to move between the curtain and the window along the windowsill. He thinks he's hilarious.


His babbling can be nonstop. He seems to know what he's saying. Sometimes we catch him paging through books and babbling as though he's reading to himself. He likes the B sound like broom, but likes to blow the B through his lips so they vibrate the sound out of his mouth. He likes the K sound like kakaka and almost whispers it likes he does his H sound for "hi" and "hot." He just started making the G sounds (gogagago) and makes it deep in his throat. His favorite sound to make right now (the one he and Daddy do when they eat) is to put his finger in mouth and move it between his lips to give us a rapid "bababababa." And then he smiles and laughs.


He still puts things in his mouth. So this has prompted the lesson of "Stop! Not for your mouth," that's probably repeated twenty times a day. He seems to understand the "stop" at least temporarily. And with more teeth coming in, he bites. He's also told here to "stop." And sometimes he'll just look at you with his mouth around your leg, ready to clamp down and we can tell he thinks about it. Then he usually will lift his head and smile at us. But sometimes the smile says, "I'll get you next time." And he does. But he also gives kisses. Usually we have to ask him for them, but he'll give them when he wants to and when Daddy's facial hair isn't too prickly. Malcolm's kisses are pretty sweet.




He's exercising his own will. He'll straighten out body when wants to be put down. He points to things he sees and wants to bring to our attention. He especially likes to point to lights. He interacts more with stuffed animals and toys and wants us to play with him. One of his favorite's is Baby Cirque du Soleil with Daddy.



He still eats well, though he seems less in love with toast. Now his new love is pasta sauce. So if we put the pasta sauce on the toast, he loves it. He also still loves all things fruit, with pears and pineapple probably being his favorite. He tries to feed himself with a spoon, but he would still rather grab with his hands and fingers.




When he stands and hears music, he'll bounce dance. When we hold him in our arms he likes to wiggle his body around so that he can look at the world upside down. When we come and go, he waves. When we blow him kisses, he giggles. When we go through all this stuff day after day, it never gets old.

Malcolm Minute 12: I *heart* spaghetti.

Malcolm and his new love for pasta and sauce.




Oh, yeah, that's the stuff.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Let's Review: Part 2

The celebrating wasn't over yet. Oh no! We then celebrated Christmas with the Grunzes.

We crashed at Nonna and Papa's.

Auntie Laura and Malcolm play a game of "peek" over and under the table.

And we ate and ate and ate. Malcolm helped in the kitchen.










And we played games and puzzles and video games. And got dressed up. Mom and Laura sewed Malcolm a little vest (that took lots of work) and looked great.







And shoveled and traveled to families North and South (within Wisconsin).

And had a wonderful time together.


Then we rang in the New Year!

Now things are getting back to normal. And by normal, we mean still crazy.