Dallin's 1st Birthday!!!

Dallin turned one this past Tuesday, June 4!  It was fun to celebrate, though we were sad not to be with family.  He got his two top teeth just in time to eat his birthday cake. Well not really, because he just poked at it and gagged when we put some in his mouth!  See a video here. He's probably the cleanest one year old and only one who didn't love eating cake!  :) He is the most particular kid ever, especially with food! He will still only eat Gerber foods and even those he has favorites- Mac N Cheese & Chicken Noodle Dinner. Other kinds he will gag down the first few bites just to show how much he dislikes them!

At 12 months he loves to play chase and crawl all over.  He has learned he can turn and crawl away before I finish diaper changes and get him dressed.  He loves getting into the dishwasher, bottom oven drawer, and cabinets in the bathroom.  He pushes the laundry bin, chairs, and stroller all over the apartment as his make-shift walker.  We thought he'd walk early, but he has started to throw a little fit if he doesn't have two hands to hold to walk.  He loves to steer our hands where he wants to go and also likes to climb stairs now.  He knows that putting on shoes and when we say "Want to GO?" that means go outside and he gets super excited.  He is a pretty easy going kid, and happiest if we are outside.  

Luckily there is some shade in a courtyard here that is perfect for afternoon hang outs to get out of the apartment.  We sat on a hammock and blew bubbles this past week. He is still learning to like the pool, there is one here that is a gradual entrance so he wades in the 8 inch water around the spraying water. He is mesmerized when he looks at the water and likes to look at it more than be in it.  I don't blame him, it's pretty cold water! We're waiting for the 100 degree heat to warm it up a bit.

He loves to push elevator buttons and makes hilarious noises-smacks his lips and does a high pitched "whale call," as we can best describe it. We're still trying to capture it on video. With no furniture in our apartment and lots of empty walls it echos a lot so he likes to be loud. He absolutely loved when we sang "Happy Birthday" and when he hears any music he likes to bounce and wave his arms around.  He said his 1st word other than "mama" and a few times of "dada."  Any guesses what it is?...... "Amen"  I guess we say a lot of prayers, and that's a good thing.

He's growing up so fast, but we have really enjoyed him over the past year.  He's such a joy to us!

Mesmerized by the pool water

Wading in the pool

Playing in the Bathroom Drawer

Pushing stroller as a walker

I'm 1 year old!  See my top 2 teeth?

Birthday Dinner-We had pizza, Dallin had Gerber foods.

Loves to walk, especially outside!

Climbing Stairs

While we were singing he held up a one with his finger!

"This is kind of a big deal, huh?"

Waving arms while we sang "Happy Birthday"

Gagging on his 1st bite of cake :)

Mmm...maybe it's better than I thought?

This is as messy as he got!

Opening cards and gifts

Look  at that haul!Thank you Grandmas, Aunts, & Cousins!

 Here's the video link of him eating, his birthday cake (same as above).