Now to discuss the one year old issues....

So...despite the fact Forrest is...of course...the most amazing one year old EVER. And I am so thankful he is my son...my ONE year old son, we...of course...still have some one year old difficulties to work out. I guess, this is normal, right? I mean what older baby/little kid doesn't have some major/minor issues to figure out.
For Forrest they probably are minor for the most part.
For one, he has taken the weaning from nursing like a champ, and has breezed through the whole transition from formula to our organic, (we try....at least most of the time...) cow's milk. He also has done very well getting used to day care two days a week. And....sleeps through the night on a regular basis...10-12 hours...yes, the dream baby.!!!!
But...
As for BABY PROBLEM #1
Forrest is a bit of a whiner....he doesn't have words yet, and the ones he has, (mama, dada,) he doesn't use all that often. So he often gets in his whiney moods, and won't tell us what he wants, and simply whines, paces, crys, and carries on until we guess at his needs. And we, ( Alex and I ,) are pretty damn good at guessing at this point as after all we have been doing it for a year. Our wonderful (in a "do you EVER get upset and scream?" sort of way,) day care lady Robin noticed this a couple weeks ago and encouraged us to try to get Forrest to point and use words....
easier said then done...
Yes, he has been known to point, but when his lovely, and experienced parents are so used to guessing his needs, ("I bet he wants some milk" OR "How 'bout some baby puffs Forrest?") why does our one year old NEED to use words...really?
Yep,  the first and only, (thus far,) child syndrome I guess. And, the brutal truth, after we failed to teach him any baby sign language?
Perhaps.
Though we also have a friend that has a son with 30+ signs and only two words...
At two years.
So, is there a right way?
Our solution is to encourage him, but to not freak out. Kids will be kids. And they do develop on their own time. He is our little boy, he has been known to already walk, at a month and nearly two weeks, 1/2 mile at one time, but to verbalize...to say what he wants....not quite yet.
We are getting better at the pointing though. At least that's something. All well wishers and suggestions greatly appreciated!
Which brings me to problem two.
HITTING!
Forrest, through his baby excitment or just his super duper energy, hits his parents ALL THE TIME.
Anytime in our arms from about two weeks ago till this point, you will get at least one, perhaps two, guaranteed slaps/hits/baby punches.
I know this is normal at this age. And most likely just his excitement. But really, oh experienced moms out there, (or just friends that have an idea or two!)
How can I let him know this isn't ok?
His slaps can get painful, and they seem to be increasing.
I tell him "NO" and he smiles, even giggles, and does it again with more furry.

Not so fun.....
With Alex it is slightly different, as when he says "NO" he cries and is in a pissy baby mood for about 10 minutes and has then forgotten it.
Any suggestions are welcome.
And for Baby Problem #3
The Massive head bonks.
Other then putting a helmet on his head I see know way around this. It's like his dirt eating. They've got to learn, right? I can only be there so much, baby proof so anally, and worry about him so often. But a baby....growing to be a kid....will be a kid....right?
It is just that, working in the medical field, I tend to see the bad, most nightmarish end of baby head bonks. As in the "my kid was airlifted to UC Davis for a bleed in the brain from a fall off our kitchen bar" type of stories.
Not so soothing or fun.
He took a good fall down our front porch steps last weekend. He is just fine, thank goodness, but I though he would remember....
LEARN.!!!!
Alas, he did not, and tried to take the step of hurt and pain again, within 5 minutes of his first fall.  Needless to say he can now walk up the stairs just fine, but down the stairs is a serious problem. I have tried to teach him how to slide down on his little baby booty, but he refuses. Now Alex and I are watching him nonstop around these said stairs of "hurt", but I know, just know, how fast he can move and am very much scared of the day he escapes our watch.
He will learn eventually, right? Make those connections that taking the step of death of the front porch as a 12 month old leads to some serious battle wounds, plus worse?
A hard head of a son.
Any thoughts, well wishes, stories of success and failure are requested.
Or, just recommendations for a helmet are my next step. At this point I think it would be easier. And battle armor for the parental figures....
For the mean time this mama is just hanging tough and living the 1 year old life....

(Approximately 7 minutes before his took his tumble down the steps....plotting his next adventure, the crazy 1 year old he is....)

Sweetness...

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Forrest at one year...

Forrest at 12 months....
lots of smiles,
lots of laughing,
lots and LOTS or garbled baby talk and shrieks,
lots of food (this kid can eat! He still loves avocados, eggs are a new favorite, as well as his "baby puffs". He seems more and more interested in what his parents are eating and will often raise a fuss about not getting something that we have.
lots of MILK, (we are transitioning to cow milk currently, and he's handling a half/half mixture just fine.)
lots of tromping and running!
lots of things in his mouth,
a lot of book playing, (he loves to flip through them, upside down, rightside up, whatever, and will do so sometimes for 20 minutes, but if you try to sit down and read with him it's a lost cause...)
a lot of practice with steps and hills, (he can do this for nearly an hour, if you want to help him. He seems to love to find something challenging, like our front porch steps, and go up and down incessently. It's a little scary as I would rather have him learn to slide on his butt so he doesn't biff it hard. But, I like that he likes challenges and can concentrate on a task...
lots of good nighttime sleep, WHEN we are at home.
a little whining, (we are trying to get him to use words and point when he wants something instead of the whining...so far, not so sucessful...though he has started pointing more.)
a little food throwing,
a little attachment to his pacifier and blankie, (just nap and bed time...we'll work on this soon, at least in terms of the binkie,)
a little antsy on planes, (to put it mildly...:-)

a little attached to his mama and dad, (stranger or more an "away from home" anxiety has shown it's face).

******It is so crazy to think that exactly 1 year ago, this little boy was this teeny tiny newborn, 1 week old. Now he is just a ball of energy, running everywhere, and very interactive. Isn't it amazing how much someone learns in just 1 year? Does this keep happening at this rate?

We are very happy and proud of our little boy in this household, and amazed every day. He's a handful, but in a great way...

Taking a peak....into the one year party scene...

and to conclude with the famous party hat that just refused to stay on...:-)
More pictures I hope are on the way, but here are a few to tide over the masses...(namely this mama!)

*A special thanks to Todd (Riley's papa!) and Janna, (Ryan's mama!) for their superb picture taking skills...

Day #366

Or, rather, the first day of Forrest's 2nd year of life was spent OUTSIDE with his mama. We were blessed by a beautiful spring day, and I couldn't think of anything I would rather do besides soaking up the sunshine in the garden. So in went the Bok Choi and spinach starts that have been growing steadily in our green house, and three different types of carrots were started.

As I raked, fertilized, and planted, thoughts of where I was just one year ago, a very very new mama, in the hospital with a day old infant, and still very much fresh from the experience of birth. The emotions of that time, and the stark contrast of this day, beautiful and sunny, spent outside, with that same day old infant now running everywhere, curious as a new little being should, and as loving as you can imagine a one year old can be.

It was a great day to spend with my one year old boy. And I look forward this year to experiencing spring with him in a whole new way! (which I guess comes with the dirt, rocks, and did I mention the eggshells?!!! that seem to make it into his mouth....:-)

Come one, Come all!

For those of you all that have not gotten an invite due to this mama being entirely too busy, (I'd like to blame it on the mail, but, well, it just ain't true!) here is your official invite to Forrest's So. Cal birthday extravaganza! Nothing too fancy, but come and celebrate with us if you'd like. This little boy loves the company to help celebrate his 365 days of life! Some important details have been x'd out as this is the www afterall, but the place is my parent's house, and call or email if you need more details. Hope to see you there!

party 1 of 2 for our 1 year old!

What a fabulous day we had! Nearly 70 degrees, sun shining, and lots of friends, big and small joined us for Forrest's big day. His actual birthday is still a week away, but due to other family commitments, (more babies!) we chose today to celebrate. And oh man how glad I am the weather was so wonderful!

Bears were the theme as we often call our home 'Fat Bear Ranch'. We celebrated with a BBQ and beer, bear shaped PB&J's, bear crackers, gummy bears, and delish cupcakes that were gobbled down. A ton of coloring, frolicking, swinging, and visiting were also done to celebrate the occasion.

Forrest looked like he thoroughly enjoyed himself and the company, the social beastie he is. Quite amazing it has already been a year. We are so lucky to have this little person in our lives.

snow, sisters, and a semi-sick baby....

Last weekend I took off for Tahoe for a conference, meeting my sister so she could get some auntie time with Forrest while I attended the conference. It was a great, albeit exhausting time. I also had the opportunity to catch up with great friends Jonna, Jess, and Jonna's one year old Bodi. We had a great time watching our babies slobber over each other and catching up ourselves.

Forrest however had a fever for two of the days, mostlly affected him at night, needless to say sleep was in short supply. He seems to have kicked it now and a snotty nose took over. Despite his little bug, he had a blast hanging with Megan, and trying out this new cool white stuff, SNOW!!!!

My conference was great, at the very posh Ritz in Truckee. I never skied or boarded, just not enough time, but still had a blast riding the gondola to my conference, enjoying lox and bagels for breakfast, and did I mention the wine and gourmet munchies that were offered in the afternoon?
Now this is what I call a great learning environment.
We made it home safe and sound after a quick whirlwind trip.

Afterall, there is truly no place like home!