Birthday Boy

Alternate Title - post with a LOT of pictures of Will in his birthday outfit!

We enjoyed celebrating Will's first birthday with family the weekend before last and then had a combo birthday/St Paddy's Day celebration with some friends this past weekend.  We really enjoyed both and it was nice to have two smaller get-togethers and be able to spend time with everyone.  Ok here come the many pictures!!

Will's signatrue pose.  He likes to bounce up and down on his knees and usually manages to catch himself when he falls forward!

Opening presents ... and classic first birthday - LOVED the wrapping paper!

Yay! Sippy cups!  Actually that was probably the last thing he was thinking as he hated these things (as opposed to his bottle) until about a week ago.  We finally had to go cold turkey and just stop the bottles because he was not interested in a slow transition.  He would just SCREAM and throw the cup away or bat at it as soon as he saw it.  He's drinking from them like a champ now and this mommy is enjoying no more bottle washing and no more bottle rack on the counter top!

Both loving the Thomas the Train ride on toy from Gigi & Pops!

Birthday cupcake for the family party

Getting ready to blow out a candle

What is on my head?!

Lauren pointing to Uncle Rory where she wanted her pigtails!

Matching pigtails with cousin Clara :-)

Sarah & Liz with sweet little Baby Elle

Smiles from Lucy & Katie!

Will and his buddy Nate!

Nate - "This is as high as you go Will!"
Will - "hehe just wait :-)"

Steven, Scott & Scott with Baby Lauren all sporting their St Paddy's Day green (and their St Paddy's Day beverages!)

Will's cookie cake! 

Going for some icing first...smart boy :-)

 And a couple things I want to remember about Will at age 1!
-We call him SCREECH for a reason!  The boy can hit some high octaves when he wants to.  Sometimes I think it's funny and sometimes I think it may just put me over the edge!!!
-He loves to bop in his high chair to music ...it's a fun distraction from screeching during dinner!
-His favorite game to play is one we call Night Night/GOOD MORNING!!  He'll lay his head down on his tray and just smile at you waiting to hear you say night night and then he'll pop back up ...and over and over :-)  He likes to play it in his crib too when we go get him up and will dive across the crib and lay their and look at us and grin...so sweet!
-He's saying Mama, Dada, and baba (not referring to anything).  Mama and Dada refer to us sometimes but not always.
-He's standing without holding on to things pretty solidly but not taking steps yet on his own.  He is a pretty fast little crawler so we will see when he decides to walk! 
-He is still a great car and stroller rider - such a blessing! 
-He's taking 2 naps but is super flexible about missing or catnapping in the car for the morning nap.
-He does not like when I drop him off at church or Bible Study.  I had planned on not letting his lovey leave the bed as a general rule but after getting called out of Bible Study because he cried nonstop and a couple weeks of him crying a LOT during church I decided to let him bring it with him for now when I drop him off places.
-He loves playing with cars and trucks (especially all the new ones he got for his birthday...thanks everyone!)
-He is kind of a picky eater but eats a lot of what he likes.  His favorites are blueberries, cheerios, strawberries and anything between 2 slices of bread!  He will eat a whole peanut butter sandwich and fruit at lunch which amazes me ...Lauren has always just eaten a half sandwich so seeing my little guy put down a whole sandwich so fast makes me laugh!
-I think this little guy is pretty laid back about a lot of things but when it comes to certain things (sippy cup/food he doesn't like etc.) he can be a little stubborn.  We are excited to see his personality coming out as he gets bigger :-)