My Sweet Baby Boy,

A whole year has passed since the day you came into my life and made me the happiest, luckiest Mommy in the entire Universe.

I can't even begin to express how very much I love and adore you, or how very proud I am of the amazing little boy you are. You have grown so quickly and learned so very much in your first year. I must say you are the smartest, sweetest, cutest, funniest, most lovable angel I have ever laid eyes on. I could never have imagined a life so perfectly happy and complete. You have made my world the most special place.

I am so thankful I was able to spend this first year with you - watching you grow and learn, playing with you, holding you, loving you and spending every moment with you. It is so hard to leave that year behind now as I go back to work, it hurts my heart to think about it and I cry as I write this. It is absolutely the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

I do know though, that we have so very much ahead of us... things have only just begun, and will only keep getting better and better. I can hardly wait to share tomorrow with you, and every day that comes after.

You are the most amazing little boy Cooper. I promise to make sure you always know that, and to make sure you dream gigantic dreams. I love you so very much and am thankful every moment of every day to be your Mom. Thank you for filling my life with happiness and love and for being the most wonderful son a Mom could ask for.

Happy first Birthday my precious angel, I love you more than I can express.

Fun at the Park!

Some pictures from our afternoon at the park yesterday. My favorite part was when Daddy threw me in the air & Mommy got a picture that makes it look like I'm flying!!

Daddy & I

This is Daddy and I over the weekend in our matching coats. Mommy says we're a couple of cutie pies!!

Soother Madness!

I love my soother. It's no secret. I am generally okay if I don't have it... kind of an out of sight out of mind thing. Mommy tries to leave it in bed in the morning, but sometimes I sneak it out into the living room. I've taken to hiding 2 or 3 soothers throughout the living room for emergency situations. Sometimes Mommy will turn around and there I am with 3 soothers!! I like to have one in my mouth, and one in each hand. I will suck the first one for a few moments, and then trade it up for another one, and then trade that one up for the third one. I go back and forth through all of the soothers. I don't like for any to feel left out. If I feel like one of my soothers may be in danger I quickly put that one in my mouth. For example, if Daddy tugs at it I will pop it in and run. Mommy thought it was very funny that I was running around with 3 soothers the other day, especially since she is trying to get me to use my soother for naps and bed time only. As you can see I got careless and laid them down to read my book for a minute... Mommy tried to take them and I cried. She didn't have the heart to take them after that :) Close call!!

Early Birthday Presents!

I got my very first Birthday present already!!! Uncle Tony and Auntie Veronica are leaving to go back to Scotland this weekend, so they won't be able to come to my birthday party next weekend, so they came over and brought me a present that I got to open early!! I was so excited! I got a really cool Elmo doll! I loved him so much that I ran around with him laughing for an hour! Daddy has created a photo montage of the momentous occasion!!!

The Aquarium!

Today we spent the day at the Vancouver Aquarium with Tony and Veronica! I've never been before, and neither has Mommy. It was so cool!! I got to see all sorts of fish and creepy crawly sea dwellers! There was a tropical section with birds and butterflies too. I saw crocodiles, sharks, jellyfish, dolphins, sea lions, beluga whales, giant turtles and otters! There was lots of other stuff... I can't even remember all of it. I was really excited and ran around yelling excited babble words. It was so much fun I waited until we were all done to take my nap. Here are some pictures from our day!

This is one of the otters... they were very cute! Mommy liked them the best!

This is me looking at a butterfly!

Looking at Daddy through a fish tank!

I'm not sure what this is...but it's pretty cool...

I'm underwater!

Mommy and I looking at some jellyfish.

Finally I fell asleep. Then a shark tried to attack me....

Forts

You may or may not remember that the living room has basically become my play room. It is furniture free except for the couch and TV, a desk in the corner and a chair. (Yes, the infamous climbing chair.)

Lately, to further establish the fact that the living room is indeed all mine and no longer grown-up friendly in any way I have been having Mommy build me elaborate forts. I like the fort to take up at least one entire corner of the room. I would prefer it to take up half of the room, but unfortunately the lack of furniture is working against me.

Here are some picture of me enjoying MY living room... complete with toys strewn everywhere (just the way I like it) and some examples of my forts. (As you can see my good old cardboard box house it still kicking around... it makes a good addition to the forts.)


Don't worry... Mommy and Daddy still have a small area on the far side of the living room. I have allowed them a space approximately 1.5ft by 3ft for their computer desk. They should be so lucky.

Tofu, Banana and Fruit Ice Cream :)

Extra Firm Tofu
Banana
Wheat Germ
Frozen Fruit (Peaches, Strawberries, Blueberries, Grapes, Melon... whatever you have!)

Puree above together, throw in a tupperware and store in the freezer. Freezes up just like ice cream in minutes! Make sure you add lots of fruit to take away most of the tofu-ish taste!

You can probably add whatever you like... Mommy threw in some fresh apricots leftover from breakfast.

Mommy made it for me today and it is nice and cold like ice cream, and feels good in teething mouths!

Just so you know how good it really is... only moments before I ate a whole bowl I threw my formula on the floor, threw all my pieces of toast at Mommy and smacked about 10 spoonfuls of veggies out of Mommy's hand. If it weren't for this fabulous tofu ice cream I would be surviving on grapes alone at this point....