Sorry for the delayed report on weaning. We have been completely weaned for about 2 weeks now. With a great idea from my cousin, Beth, Andrew acted as if he had never known any other form of liquid. He loves to drink his milk in his sippy cup and walks around the house while drinking. I have to admit that it was harder on me than I thought it would be. It really makes me feel like he isn’t my little baby anymore. He is turning into a little boy more and more everyday.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions during this process. It is so great to have wonderful friends and family.

Here are some great pictures courtesy of Andrew’s Daddy!!

I can’t believe my baby boy turned 1 yesterday. On Friday night before David and I went to bed we took five minutes and looked through all of the pictures that we have taken of/with Andrew over the past year. It has been the best year of my life and I have loved every moment with my little boy. I remembered every feeling and emotion that I felt one year ago when I held him for the first time. I still can’t believe he is all mine (and David’s). I love you Andrew!!!!

We gave Andrew a great little Curious George-themed party in the park yesterday. God blessed us with a gorgeous DC day and a bunch of our friends came to celebrate with us. The only thing that would have made it better would have been that our families be here with us. The good thing is that we get to take a little trip to Alabama this week to celebrate with them all.

One Year Ago, yesterday!

So Little at 2 weeks!

Pumpkin Patch at One Month

Handsome Man at 2 almost 3 months

4 Months- First trip to the US Capitol

5 Months- Sitting up on his own already!!

6 Months- First time seeing the Cherry Blossoms

6 1/2 Months- Too cute not to post!

7 Months- Hanging with the Cousins!

8 Months- The Family

9 Months- First time swimming

10 Months- At Auburn University

Unfortunately we didn’t take any pictures in August. I know, it’s a shame!!

12 Months- Big Boy

Some more cuteness at 12 months!!

Over the past couple of weeks my little guy has become very brave and has started climbing EVERYTHING. I have to put the chairs to his table away because if I don’t, this is what happens:

Another cute thing that happened the same day as the chair incident was when Drew woke up from his nap, his hair was sticking straight up. The picture doesn’t do it justice but it was absolutely hilarious.

Andrew has always loved blankets. He has a super soft blanket that his Aunt Megan bought him that he sleeps with every night. Last week, I found him playing with the living room blanket. I can only assume his was playing peek-a-boo with Wesley but he looks like a little ghost!!!

Nathan, one of the boys that I babysit, celebrates his first birthday today. He and Andrew are only 4 days apart and have become great friends. They love each other very much and play so well together. Drew definitely misses his playmate on the weekends and gets very excited on Monday mornings whenever Nathan arrives.

To make today special for Nathan, I baked blueberry muffins this morning. He loved them and it was really challenging to get him to look at the camera because he was focused on his muffin. Here are a couple of cute snapshots:

Over the past couple of weeks Andrew has become so independent. Don’t get me wrong, he loves his mommy and relies on her quite a bit. What I am saying is that he enjoys doing things himself. Whenever he started walking, he developed an attitude about himself. He thinks he is bigger/older than he actually is. I know that he is learning new things everyday. Feeding him has definitely become a challenge. He immediately grabs the spoon out of my hand and wants to do it all by himself. This morning was no exception and I was able to grab a couple of pictures with my camera.

Yum! Oatmeal and applesauce!!

See, Mom, I can do it!

I didn’t have time to go to the store for some strawberry syrup (thanks Beth!) so I tried the other suggestion (thanks Nina!) and warmed the milk before giving it to him. You would think after 3 days of giving him his cup with this wonderful liquid that babies require he would give in and drink it. He is obviously smarter than I have given him credit. He repeated the same actions as the previous days and wanted nothing to do with this product that I was trying to give him. I am still nursing in the morning and at night before bedtime so he is still getting nutrition. I do constantly worry that he is thirsty because he normally gets a cup of watered down juice during the day with his snack but I haven’t allowed this luxury while trying to wean. I have given water and he drinks it in spurts but not like the juice (obviously). We will try again today and wish for the best! Only 15 days until he turns 1!!!

Andrew is officially the paci thief. He hasn’t taken one since he was 4 months old but he loves to pull them out of the mouth of every baby who does take one. For months I have been telling him no no and that we don’t take other people’s pacifiers. After constant scolding for being a little thief, the other day he pulled Wesley’s out of his mouth and said “No, no!” I couldn’t help but giggle on the inside. At least he does listen to me! But now, he takes the paci out, says “No,no” and hands it to me. I guess he thinks that no one should have one!

Drew is almost 1 year old so I have begun the process of weaning from breastmilk to whole milk. Not an easy task! Yesterday, I gave him one of his favorite sippy cups with milk thinking that he will drink it immediately. Things don’t always go as planned. He immediately threw the cup in my lap and started spitting the milk out. Ok so we move to plan B, a bottle. I didn’t want to give him a bottle because I want him to drink from a sippy cup especially since he loves drinking from a cup. To no avail, the bottle didn’t work either. No worries. We will try again tomorrow. It is a process, right?

Today, instead of nursing at one of our normal times, I gave Drew a cup with milk. To my disappointment, I received the same result as the day before. He definitely doesn’t like cow’s milk right now but we will continue the process until he is happy drinking it and I feel that he is getting the right amount per day.

It’s definitely a tough job being a mommy!!!

I have started cleaning house on Fridays while Nathan is here to entertain Drew. This past Friday, Andrew thought that he would help me sweep/vacuum the living room. I can’t wait until this actually happens!!

I can do this for you, Mom!

He would actually play with this sweeper for hours if I let him. A great birthday gift for him would be any kind of cleaning kits for kids!!

We had a friend come into town this past weekend so a bunch of us went to Chipotle after church on Sunday. It was such a gorgeous day that I had to snag this cute photo of Drew beside the canal in Georgetown. This is also his new umbrella stroller which makes him look like such a big boy!!