Eric is One!

It's amazing how many "firsts" can be crammed into one year! First breath, first smile, first laugh, first cold, first vacation, first tooth, first word, first step, first tantrum...

Life has certainly changed for us this past year, too.

I have a new appreciation for sleeping past 6:00 (though early morning snuggles with a warm-jammied baby seem like a good trade-off).

Dining out has been replaced by take-out.

I don't go anywhere without diapers and Goldfish crackers.

The house looks like we have daily tornadoes.

A half hour to myself is usually spent catching up on bills, or washing dishes.

Most of Christian's and my conversations inevitably turn to the "incredible and hilarious" thing that Eric did that day.

Eric, you are an answer to prayer, and you have brought so much more joy, love, laughter and sleepless nights to our home than we could have ever imagined. We are so thankful to God for letting us be your parents!

11 Months

Here's our 11 month update. You know what that means: next he'll be 1! Can't believe how quickly it's gone - but that's a rant I'll save for next month.

Eric has been busy this past month! His biggest change has been the walking, which has opened up his world to new things and a faster way to get there. He's pointing at things and asking "da"? When looking at or playing with anything on wheels he makes a "b-b-b-b" car noise. Listen for it in this video...

Eric is learning how to move objects where he wants them, and then use them to climb onto other things.

The wagon ride to the mailbox is a favorite daily activity.

Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad. Granny and Pa.
Love it.

Halloween

For Eric's first Halloween, he dressed up as his favorite thing in the world: Peaches.

Here they are sharing some treats.

We spent the afternoon at the Wild Animal Park with the Lights and Varvels.

"Why are they doing this to us"?

Fancy Lady/Princess Eden and her gorilla

It was way too hot for Eric to wear his whole costume. At least he had the nose!

"Hey, Tink, wanna Goldfish"?

Next we went to the Farmers' to see cousin GracieBelle, aka Fi Fi.

Eric went Trick-or-Treating for the first time.

Then our little puppy tried to have a snack.

We finished off the day with a visit to Granny and Pa. What we saw at that visit will need it's own post...

Camping in Julian

This past weekend we went camping in Julian with some friends and family. The first night no one slept very much, but the second night was much better. We had lots of fun hanging out together and chasing the babies away from the fire!

Sooo much dirt to touch and eat!

Hobo Stew cooking away. So yummy!!

Our campground had a fun playground, so the moms "hiked" there with the kids.

"Mmm, this rock looks tasty".

Little blonde boy

Valerie helping Eric walk.

The chairs provided lots of entertainment.

Dirty Face

Climbing

Eric: King of the World
(Uncle Johnny was behind holding him -- sorry to ruin the magic)


Fact: It is impossible for babies to look in the same direction at the same time.
Varvels

Us