ONE!!

Dearest Baby Ryker,

Today we celebrate your FIRST birthday, Baby Boy. As I always say, time is flying, and it is hard to believe that you are already one. Although I can't imagine our family without you, this year has flown by. We honestly couldn't ask for anything more, you are thriving. You are healthy, happy, loveable, active, easygoing and funny. We know you love being with family most, but are easy to warm up to new people and give them your signature smiles.

Your personality is starting to shine through, and like I said, you are funny. The other day, while feeding you yogurt, you would take a bite and immediately open your mouth in an exaggerated, super-wide fashion while laughing and giving me an expectant look. You were joking around with me. You do a lot of things to get a laugh out of us and like when we tease you back. You clap along when we sing "If you're happy and you know it," you play peek-a-boo, and you raise your arms up when we ask, "How big is Ryker?" You also love to wrestle! From an early age you have joined in the pile with Daddy and your siblings, throwing yourself right on top while laughing. You are definitely busy, busy, busy and a rough and tumble little man. Outside, you are almost always holding a stick and are content playing in the dirt and wood chips. This part of you reminds me so much of what your brother was like as a toddler.

Like all of our babies, gross motor skills are your strength. You started walking at 9.5-months-old and had fully traded crawling for walking by 10 months. You are now practically running! You have been climbing stairs since 7.5-months-old, and have figured out how to come down fairly safely. You climb slides at the park, climb up onto the dishwasher when it's open, climb onto stools, furniture, tables...you are a climber! You love to be chased and stand right back up when you fall down.

You have a lot of vocalizations, although I'm not sure your "mamas" and "dadas" are directed at us yet. You make new sounds daily and I know words will be quick to follow. We've been lax on teaching you sign language, but you do know "more" and use it while eating. You LOVE to eat and can get quite demanding. At about 9-months-old we traded any purees for real food, and you pretty much eat whatever we're having, which I find impressive with only having four teeth (front two on top and bottom). You feed yourself finger foods and like to use the spoon, which you're actually pretty accurate with! The only things I've found you to refuse so far are avocado and tomato soup. Your favorite foods are fruits, and you love bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, pears, strawberries, peaches, oranges, and grapes. You're still nursing, but this is naturally coming to an end (bittersweet for mama), and you've been transitioning over to milk in a sippy cup just fine.

Sleep-wise we're getting there. You will still frequently wake up once a night, but give us sporadic nights without any wakings. You are the best napper out of the three kiddos and we can count on you for a solid morning and afternoon nap if we're home. Because we're so often out and about with your siblings' activities, you frequently miss a nap, but tend to just go with the flow.

I could go on and on about all the little details that make you, you. We all love you to pieces, Ryker-man, and you are a joy to have. I'm blessed to be your mom.

Love, Mommy