So big!!!!!!!

I can't believe it, but we've got a big milestone coming up in a few days! Yup, Robin's almost O-N-E! In fact, this will be the last post before the big birthday. It's hard to believe a whole year has passed already. Poor Dean is already mourning the loss of his FMLA time.

Robin is going to be walking on his own very soon. He's got a big truck pushtoy that he can easily walk behind, and he's getting very good at walking while holding our hands. His balance and endurance seem to improve every day, and he's even walked while just holding ONE of our hands a few times! He has also managed to stay standing for a few seconds without holding onto anything.

In-out-in-out, on-off-on-off, open-closed-open-closed...

Robin is learning these concepts and more, by repeating the actions while I narrate (over... and over again.) He'll spend several happy minutes opening and closing a door, putting toys into a bucket (or trash can *sigh,* or I even managed to get him to help me put his clean socks in his drawer) and pulling them out again, turning the radio on and off, and putting the stacking rings together and taking them apart.

He's a boy, all right. Robin has killed his first spider. The other day we saw him suddenly chase after something and saw a small dark spot moving around the floor away from him. I tried to pick him up so the spider wouldn't bite him if he caught it, but he stuck his finger out and squished it before I got him away!

Our latest trip to the zoo was, by far, the most exciting for all involved. Robin is now able to actually see the animals and pay attention to them (provided they're moving) and he got really excited by all that there was to see at the zoo. We loved watching him squeal and shriek and point.

Waving is now part of Robin's repertoire, and he's added the sign for "more" as well, though he doesn't use it near as much as "milk."  He can grasp his hands with his fingers interlaced too.  Apart from "mama" and "dada" (which often get lost in the other babble,) we have yet to hear any definite words, although he says "nah-nah" when he wants to eat. We have no idea where that came from, but it's consistent enough that we're sure of its meaning. We also think he might be trying to say "night-night" (ni-ni) when we put him down to bed. 

He can hug now, and often does so to stuffed animals and us when asked to.

We have allowed some sugar into his diet now. 
...mmmm...
chocolate!..

Using a spoon by himself is slow going, but occasionally something makes it into his mouth.

This is what happens when Mommy lets Robin play with a ballpoint pen and doesn't realize that it's not retracted.

Robin really likes the pirate Halloween decoration we put up in our stairwell every year.

Another trip to the park.

Check back soon for an update on the big FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!