Happy 1st birthday!

Dear Caydin,

Hi monkey! It's Mommy! This is just a little note from Mommy that you can read when you're big! Maybe, HOPEFULLY, I'll write you a letter every birthday. I say hopefully because we all know Mommy is a bit forgetful! But WOW, where did the time go? Just one year ago today, you were a tiny 7 pound 3 oz baby with no name!!! We didn't pick your name until about an hour after you were born - we had to get a good look at you to see what name fit! I think your name is perfect, though often times, you are referred to as monkey, monkey man, or Cay-man.

You have been THE BEST baby that any mommy or daddy could ask for and we love you! You have been showing us how strong you are since the day you came home from the hospital! You always loved to stand and just look around. It was no surprise when you started crawling at 6 months and walking at 10 1/2 months! You are a great napper and sleeper, which mommy and daddy are very thankful for!!!! You are also a great eater - you love your bottles and love your solids! Right now, you especially love puffs and cherrios! It's hard to believe that you are chewing on those puffs and cherrios with the EIGHT teeth in your mouth!

You love to be outside and love to play in the refrigerator! You love anything with wheels and balls. Often times, I will find you staring out the back porch or looking out the window. We both love to watch people, especially daddy when he cuts the yard, but you also have a love for watching animals!

This year has been so fun! Mommy went back to work when you were almost a month old so you have been spending a lot of time with grandma. We went to a pumpkin patch, took your first plane ride to Chicago to meet your great-grandparents, met Santa, saw Aunt Katie graduate from college, met the Easter bunny, took your first LONG car ride to North Carolina, and watched Uncle Jay and Aunt Jen get married! Mommy has had the BEST TIME staying home with you all summer. You truly are a mama's boy!

We love you Caydin and can't wait to see you grow even bigger and stronger! Keep smiling, laughing, and screaming (the joyful kind, not the upset kind) because it makes Mommy and Daddy soooo happy!

Happy 1st birthday!

Love Mommy

At 12 months, you are....

Eating foods with your fingers {mainly puffs, cherrios, and most recently, chicken nuggets}

Eating solid food off of a spoon {no more baby fruits, you do great with diced fruit}

Eating three big meals a day and 4 bottles.

Cut 2 new teeth this month!

Picking heavy things up using both hands.

Rolling balls, bouncing balls, chasing balls.

Dropping objects inside of other objects.

Hate getting your fingers dirty or touching things that are messy {paint, fruit, grass}

Graduated from your first Kindermusik class.

Wave Hi.

Follow Mommy ALL OVER the house.

Love bedroom and closet doors, OH and the dishwasher door!

....I'll add more when I think of them!!!!...