Robin is ONE!!!!!

Yup!  Robin has hit the big milestone.  These were his cakes: a volcano to go with the dinosaur theme, and alphabet blocks just because.  Let me tell you, coming up with a way to make eggless cake that didn't fall apart was a challenge, but in the end I found something that worked.

On Robin's actual birthday (Friday, October 23) Dean took off from work.  We spent the day playing, giving Robin his gifts, and preparing for the party the next day. 

We gave Robin a fire-truck-ball-pit, a mega-blok train with alphabet blocks, a little toy car, and a big truck that he can ride or

push (we gave the last to him a few months ago because we wanted it around while he worked out how to cruise and walk, but we put a bow on it since it was supposed to be for his birthday.)  He also opened gifts from some great aunts and uncles, which had come in the mail.

On Saturday we had a pretty big party.  We had about 26 people here at the maximum time.  Eight were children, including Robin, with four of them being 12-18 months old.  It was fun to have so many kids around (but we were glad their parents were present too!)  We also pride ourselves in guessing the right amount of food pretty accurately, since we had just a tiny bit of leftovers.

We had some unstructured play/eat time at the beginning of the party, then moved on to CAKE!!!!!,

and then presents from the non-family guests.  After that, the Guest of Honor went down for a nap, while family and a few friends stayed to talk. 

After Robin woke up again, he played with his family and then opened their gifts. 

It was a very full day, and Robin went down for his naps and for bed very quickly, so I guess we wore him out.  But it was fun, and out of all of the toddler meltdowns that occurred, which were all pretty short, not one came from Robin!

The "oh" look on his face in several of these photos is something he's been doing a lot lately.  We think he's discovered this new and fun way to move his mouth muscles.

Our big one year old has officially spoken his first word, other than Mama and Dada.  He is definately saying "night-night" before naps and bed.

A new year of life, a new blog style.  Yes, as you can see, I thought it was time to change the blog up a bit.  As always, hope you enjoy watching the development of our "little big boy"!

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!!!!!!!!!!

New car seat

We've traded in the easy-to-carry, (comparitively) light infant carseat for a new "convertible" one. He's outgrown the old one, both in height and weight, but since he's under a year he still needs to be rear-facing. The new one is a BEAST! It currently weighs more than Robin does and can support him rear-facing to 35 pounds (he's allowed to flip around after a year AND 20 pounds, but it's safer to keep him rear-facing for longer) and forward-facing up to 65 pounds. So he'll be a really big boy by the time he outgrows THIS one!

Last time in the old carseat

Now in the new carseat

We went to the firestation so they could help us make sure we were installing the new one correctly, and then Robin got to see a firetruck, and they gave him his own firehat as well.

In other news, this last weekend Robin learned to put a ring on his stacking rings!

And today he figured out that after he pulls the magnets off the fridge, he can put them back on again and they stick! He's also got four teeth now, he cut the top two a little more than a week ago. They took a lot longer than I expected them to (since we'd seen them beginning to protrude into his gums quite a while back,) though I've heard from several other people with kids that the top ones take longer.

It's been chilly these last few days, so here he is, all bundled up. Isn't he a cutie??!!!!

Off we're gonna shuffle, Shuffle off to Buffalo!

Yes! Our trip. I'm just now getting photos sorted.

As I mentioned earlier, my mom's aunt went to a consignment store and picked up a pack-n-play for us, since there was nowhere to rent one nearby. So we stopped at their house before heading to Nana's, for some visiting and to pick it up. Robin got to meet some Great-Great-Aunts and an Uncle. Here is Bob, Doris, and Lorraine, with Robin (of course!)

Snuggling with Great Nana

Robin was a bit perplexed by the glass-topped coffee table.

Our biggest outing of the vacation was Robin's first visit to Niagara Falls. We saw lots of water. Lots and lots of water. Robin was rather mesmerized by all of the water.

Robin sees the bird

Hanging out and having fun

We all had breakfast together at the table, even Robin! Cereal-breaded french toast--ah, the decadence of vacation!

My Aunt Jackie flew out and stopped by while we were in Buffalo. She came out because my cousin Gretchen had a piano recital the last day of our vacation, and she wanted to see it.

Robin wants YOU!

Then on the last day, we all trucked down to Westfield (a little less than an hour-and-a-half away) to see the recital, and the family.

Gretchen is now at Interlocken (sp?), which is a school of music in Michigan, for her senior year of high school. It sounds like after studying there, she ought to have a clear shot at the college of her choice. And well she deserves it, she was really good!

Robin is learning to play the piano too!

Robin with his Great Uncle Matt

Robin with his Great Aunt Darlene

Four generations again. He's grown a lot since the last time we did this!

Lastly, and most entertaining, Robin learned to dance while we were gone. It's really cute! Usually I find these kinds of toys cloying, but I was getting a kick out of Robin's entertainment. (Please don't cringe too much, Aunt Catherine, I've heard you hate this chicken.)

Thanks again, Nana, for having us and for the wonderful visit! We all miss you!

Vroom vroom

Last night, Robin began playing with his Fisher Price telephone like a car, driving it all over the house. He continued this again today, and it has proved to be the most fun toy he's ever played with, judging by the fact that he hasn't clamored for our attention nearly as much while playing with the phone as he usually does. He whines every time it turns off of its wheels, but usually gets it back upright again on his own. The video is a little dark, but you get the idea.

He had pancakes with us this morning! Just a little one, and he tore it to shreds, but he seemed to enjoy it.

He has also recently figured out how doors work. He can't reach the handles, of course, but he'll sit next to an open door, swing it mostly closed, then grab the edge of the door and push it open again. And again, and again.

There's definately a lot more going on in that little head these days. He's so neat to watch!

Oh, and it's a good thing that he hasn't decided to try to get out of his crib on his own yet, because when we went to get him up this morning, we discovered that the crib side had been down all night. Yikes! Thank goodness nothing happened!

Happy Labor Day everybody!