12 Months Old...

Well I'm only oh about a month late with this update but between birthday parties, work, and preparing to move lets just say it has been tough to find a few minutes to sit down.  Also, we were almost three week late getting to Hamp's 12 month check up because he had been sick so I wanted to wait to include those numbers and here they are....

Weight-24 lbs. 4 oz. 60th percentile

Height-30.25 inches 68th percentile

He is certainly a growing boy!

 That belly just doesn't lie...

It is unbelieveable how much he has changed and grown over the past year and I would swear he gets cuter by the minute but that's probably just the proud mama talking...

He recently rediscovered his nap nanny the other day as we were getting some things packed up to move and it made me sad to see how much he fills it up now.  I distinctly remember him so small and tiny bundled up in it...

 

Talk about melting my heart!  People aren't lying when they tell you the first year flies by but it makes sense but it just so much fun!

What's he's wearing:  Hampton wears 18 months size clothes.  He has a very few 12 month things he can wear like some pants and shorts but for everything else 12 months is just too small in length especially.  His little feet....well we squeeze into a size three beause his feet are so little but so chunky so the size fours look so long on him but because of their chunkiness we are pushing it with the threes.  We think he got his Nonna's little feet, for now at least. We prefer going barefoot anyway!

He wears size 4 diapers throughout the day but wears a size 5 night time diaper.  

Eating/Sleeping:  Hamp is still a GREAT eater!  His first tooth came in at about 11 1/2 months and the second one came in right behind it.  But we haven't seen any signs of anymore teeth since then.  So even though he only has his two little bottom teeth, he can eat like you wouldn't believe.

Hamp has been eating table foods for a while now and we haven't really found anything he doesn't like.  You won't believe it, but the boy even likes okra.  I don't even like okra unless it's fried but if he'll eat it, I'll definitely let him have at it!  

I'm shocked he doesn't weigh more with as much as he eats.  I can't blame him though, I think his love of food comes from me…

Hamp is doing great with regular milk!  He wasn't sure about it for the first week or so but he's done great since then.

He is still sleeping like a champ!  We start his bath around 7:00 and he's usually down by 7:30 and sleeps until about 6:00, sometimes 6:30 if we're lucky. But we're early risers around our house so I guess he's like us.

What's new:  Hamp isn't walking yet but it's coming soon!  He took about three steps on his own about two days before he turned 1.  After that he seemed to get nervous and he'd just fall down and crawl as if that is way faster to him.  He is a cruising machine and has learned that he can usually find something to hold on to that'll get him where he wants to go and he'll occasionally let go.  He can stand on his own pretty well.  So we keep thinking he'll be walking any day now.  We will see, though I am in no hurry!

He isn't say a whole lot, well he is actually saying A LOT, but there just isn't a lot we can really understand.  Here are the words we do understand Dada, Mama, Bye bye, Uh Oh, Wow, Ouch, and This.  Besides that he is talking up a big ole storm of babble but it is pretty cute.  He points at things all the time and says this.  He loves to clap for everything and I never get enough of it.  He also blows kisses, waves and dances.  

  Favorite things:  Hamp loves to throw the ball back and forth and his daddy is proud to say he has a good arm!  He L.O.V.E.S the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Disney Jr.  He starts yelling, dancing and clapping all at the same time when it comes on.  It is hilarious!  He is obsessed with the remote and our cell phones and shows a little bit of that attitude when we won't let him have them…it's an issue.  He can actually use and iPhone and iPad pretty well!  He has figured out the swiping and touch screen.  I do let him have my iPhone to talk to Elmo and he loves that too!  He also loves to throw the ball for himself and chase after it…I guess he's been watching his buddy Thor, who he still adores.  Thor has recently started taking a lot more from Hamp.  Hamp now crawls on him, grabs him, plays with his feet etc. and sweet Thor just lays there and takes it…for a while at least.  He'll just get up and move when he's had enough

Even though his favorite place in the whole world is mommy's hip, lap or arms…

 And even though this is what normally happens when mommy won't hold him or tries to cook dinner, or go to the restroom, or change clothes, or fix a glass of water, or even thinks about leaving his side even for a moment...

He really does love his daddy…nobody makes him smile or giggle like he does…

Hampton, you are a big ONE year old!  It is hard to believe a year has gone by.  But we've had a blast this year and this year can officially go down in the books as the best year of our lives.  It is hard to remember our life without you.  You have added immeasurable joy and happiness to our lives.  We love watching your grow and learn new things every day and you amaze us with each new day.  I adore how you stand on your toes!  And those legs still get me every time.  We get mixed reactions on who you look like now.  Most people still say you look like your daddy, but here recently more people are saying you look like me.  Regardless, you are one beautiful little boy…blue eyes, big smile, blond curls and all.  There is no denying that you seem to have your daddy's personality.  Laid back and mild mannered…most of the time.

I love your smile, those sly eyes, and funny faces.  I love your every giggle…it fills my heart like nothing else.  I love how you have become quite the love bug.  You lay your head on my shoulder and wrap your arms around my neck…it is my new favorite thing.  It is inevitable you will continue grow.  As much as I wish these days would slow down, I do look forward to each new day.  Because you fill our days with fun, excitement and happiness…a sweet kind of happiness that can only come from above.  I am so thankful God chose us to be your parents…it is such a blessing.  We love you with all our hearts and we look forward to watching you grow…

Happy 12 Months sweet boy!  

Hampton's First Birthday...

Well if you've been reading my monthly posts, then you know this mommy has been trying very hard to delay the inevitable...my baby boy turning one!!!

It literally seems like yesterday that I was holding my tiny baby in my arms....

 And now here we are with our big 1 year old boy!

Hamp's actual birthday was on Friday, the day before his big party so my plan was to do nothing but spend time with the birthday boy!  When Hampton woke up we had a little surprise waiting for him...

Sand toys for his new sandbox!!!  And let me just tell you this $5 truck was worth every penny.  Hamp literally played with it all day long!

Next on the birthday agenda...Hamp's very favorite mommy's homemade blueberry pancakes!  My family has always had the "special plate" tradition so it was fun to start this tradition with Hampton on his 1st birthday.

 Hamp was not happy we wouldn't let him get a hold of that candle...we knew it wasn't the best idea but we got a picture for the memory books.

 And we let him have at the pancakes and he was one happy boy!

We spent the rest of the day just enjoying our birthday boy which was perfect!

When Saturday rolled around...it was officially party time!

Even though it was hard for me to accept that the big 1 was here, I was also pretty excited to celebrate!  Luckily our Spring Break fell on the week before his birthday so I had plenty of time to prepare for Hamp's 1st Birthday!

 I spent most of my spring break making the decorations.  It was simple but still a lot of work.  My style is definitely easy, simple, cute and inexpensive!  And I've learned it can be done without breaking the bank and lets be honest, it makes my hubby happy too!

I didn't go with any particular theme, I just wanted it to be cute, fun and special...and special it was!

Hampton gave "sweet" little cookies to thank his guests for celebrating with him...

If anyone knows me well, then you know I love pictures and Hampton has spent most of his first year with a camera in his face so it seemed fitting to decorate for the party with our favorite photos from Hamp's first year...

Oh what fun it has been...

The only dcorations I didn't make for the party were the poms, Hamp's hat, and the tissue garland...everything else was courtesy of mommy!  

I made the toppers for the cupcakes and the cupcakes were from Sweet and Sassy and oh so good!

But I did make the cake!  It is my Aunt Peggy's famous and all time favorite pound cake with cream cheese icing.

I was determined to make the cake and I'm glad I did...it was delicious if I do say so myself!  I also made the cake topper as well which I thought turned out great!

I did get Hamp's smash cake from Publix...I thought the birthday boy deserved his own mini cake to dig in to

 We also used my old high chair from when I was a baby for the party which made it extra special

I had lots of help with all of the food which I was so thankful for and it was delicious!

 I wasn't sure how it would all pull together but it came together and it was just perfect!  It was worth every bit of the work for my sweet boy and I really had so much fun doing it!

It was the perfect day for a party!  The sun was shining and if felt amazing outside, it couldn't have been any better and every one was so excited to get their hands on the birthday boy.

 We spent the day in the sunshine hanging out with family and close friends!  

Even my long time friend, Jenn, from way back when came to celebrate!  I absolutely loved having her ther...it made the day that much more special!

Even though Hamp had plenty of entertainment for his party, this boy never strays far from his mama!  I can't lie, I love it and when this phase passes it will hurt my heart...

He sure loves his mommy and I sure love that sugar...don't worry he adores his daddy too and there is no doubt that he will be a daddy's boy very soon ; )

Hamp had plenty of goodies just for him!  And he had his sweet friends ready and willing to help!  They were precious and told him which ones would be his favorite and I am sure they were right!

As you can see Hampton was pretty spoiled!  He got so many sweet goodies!  After presents it was time for the moment we had all been waiting for...cake time!  Everyone knows Hamp is a good eater so we were all excited to see him dive into his cake!

 We got lucky and got one picture with the hat but he was not a fan!

Of course it was funny on mommy!

Of course he didn't disappoint, he dug right in and loved every bit of it!

After he got his fill he was ready to be cleaned up!

We had such a fun day just spending time with people we love and celebrating the best year of our lives...our first year with Hampton!

It has by far been the best year of our lives.  This has been a year filled with more joy than we can begin to describe.  Hampton, God not only answered our prayers when He gave you to us, but He poured out his love in the most amazing way.  Your laughter, your smiles, and even your tears have warmed our hearts like you only you can.  You have brought a light into our lives that is special and precious and something we are thankful for every single day.  The days will continue to pass far too quickly but know that we hang on to every little thing you do and we are just soaking up every minute with you.  And even though we wish you could stay just the way you are at this very minute, we have no doubt that you will continue to fill our lives and hearts with more happiness and joy with each new day...

We had a blast celebrating your special day with you and it was a day we will never forget!  You are so very special to us!

We love you more than anything our sweet precious boy!

Happy 1st Birthday!