I'M ONE YEAR OLD!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! This weekend I turned one! What a long, strange trip it’s been! So much has happened in just one year. Mommy started tearing up when she put me to bed last night. It was my final night-time nursing session. I was so tired after my big celebration; I finished, smiled at Mommy & Daddy and practically fell into my crib. My First Birthday Party was on Saturday, March 18th (it was the 19th in Japan ; so it was a legitimate one-year celebration). A lot of my family members were there to share the milestone—my Great-Grandmother & Great Granddaddy Godbold, Grandma & Grandpa Breyen, Granna & Papa Goodwin, Aunt Julie & Uncle Wes with cousins Anna & Ashley, cousin Skyler (Katie was sick) and honorary “Uncle” Mike.

Currently, I'm fascinated by cars & balls. I roll my cars along the carpet, chairs, couch, Daddy’s legs—any surface within reach. And I love to carry my toy basketballs & baseballs around the house—one in each hand—so Mommy made the party a “ball” theme. Daddy grilled fajitas and Mommy baked a baseball cake. I had my own mini-cake to eat after everyone sang “Happy Birthday.” It was my first taste of pure sugar. I wasn’t quite sure what to think (the 15 people staring at me while I sat in my highchair didn’t help my appetite either). I coyly played with a corner of the cake for the first few minutes. Once everybody received their slice and left me alone, I started to make a mess. Mommy got some good photos. I washed my cake down with my first sippy cup of whole milk. Daddy says, “there goes our grocery bill!” After I opened gifts, I played games with my cousins outside. It was a nice Texas day—about 78 degrees. After playtime, it was time for my nap…and I guess the party ended. After the guests left, Grandma & Grandpa baby-sat me while Mommy & Daddy tried to go see “Harry Potter” at the dollar show. Except they couldn’t find the dollar theater, so they hung out at Barnes & Noble and shared stories over lattes instead. (They need to get out more!)

On Sunday morning, we had a birthday brunch to celebrate my cousin Ashley’s birthday. She’s only 10-days younger than me. We had pancakes…yummy! Ashley even had pink whipped cream on HER pancake. Grandma & Grandpa Breyen and the Papenfuss family (Mommy's sister) were here for 10 days. We did so much! I went to the San Antonio Zoo for the first time. We saw elephants, grizzly bears, giraffes, zebras, hippos, rhinos, lions, tigers, monkeys, flamingos and many other animals. I loved the rocks, leaves and trash on the trails as much as the animals! We went to the Alamo Café for dinner to show Mommy’s family what “real” Tex-Mex tastes like.

The next day I played outside in my backyard with my cousins Ashley & Anna. We shared the wagon, ball pit, pretend garden fence, giant bouncing ball and plastic swimming pool. On Wednesday we all went to Sea World! Anheuser Busch is having a “Salute to Heroes” for our men & women in the Armed Forces (and their families); so Mommy & Daddy got in free. Once inside, I loved trying to pet the dolphins; but even more enthralling was watching Shamu’s show “Believe.” I stared at the giant mammal the entire half-hour. Mommy and Daddy gave me a season’s pass to Sea World for my birthday. There is a little tyke’s playground and waterzone in the middle of the park. I hope we’ll spend a lot of time there during the 100 degree summers. I went back to the zoo with Ashley & Anna on Thursday. Everyone kept asking Aunt Julie and Uncle Wes if they had twins. (Ashley and I had A LOT of photos taken together at the petting zoo and kid’s area.)

Friday was St. Patrick’s Day. They actually dye the river green in the River Walk area of San Antonio. In addition to the regular work-week crowd, the St. Patty’s revelers and early tourists—we were fighting the spring break crowds at the Alamo and on the River Walk. This was my first trip to the Alamo. Daddy has an ancestor who died “defending the Republic” there so he wanted me to see it. I really had fun running around the gardens in back . And that brings us back to the birthday bashes on Saturday & Sunday.

The rest of my days here in Texas are typical of a one-year-old boy. I wake up with Mommy in the morning between 6:00-7:00 and soon it's time for breakfast. I’m eating almost all table foods now. I tried eggs for the first time today. I wasn’t too sure about their spongy texture. My favorite foods are chicken, fish, kidney beans, tofu, frozen peas, cooked carrots, sweet potatoes, grapes and liverwurst (Grandpa Breyen ordered some at the café on the River Walk and I couldn’t get enough of it!) I still take a two-hour nap in the morning (about 9-11), lunch, playtime (usually about an hour outside—the weather’s been beautiful) and another afternoon nap (from about 2-4). Daddy bikes to school, he usually gets home at about 5:00. He plays with me for an hour or so—sometimes we go for walks and I get to look at cars; sometimes we wrestle on the livingroom floor and I squeal with glee; sometimes we go to a restaurant with friends where I try new foods and people watch. I eat dinner at about 6:00; Daddy gives me a bath (I like my “guy time” with Daddy); Mommy & Daddy read me a bedtime story; and I’m in bed no later than 7:00 (with some exceptions). I’m a good sleeper. Mommy & I have some special days at the library story-hour, playgroups— like with my friend Carroll across the street, watching Daddy play softball on Mondays, etc. I am a very smiley kid. People always comment on my big eyes and smile. I love people and love to show affection. The only problem is that I’ve started showing affection by hugging with a love bite. And I don’t always nibble; sometimes the biting feels good and I chomp. Mommy has many bite marks on her shoulders. Everyone keeps telling Mommy biting is a phase that all babies go through. Hee-hee! Only I know.