One year

It's official, Abe is one!!! We had the families over yesterday for a little birthday brunch for my now very big, little boy, or as Marley puts it "a wicked big toddlah". There was coffee, biscuits and gravy, carrot cake, fruit salad, and Mom made some homemade cinnamon raisin cranberry bread from that Artisan Bread in 10 Minutes a Day. It was goood. At one point Mom walked by him with a piece in her hand and Abe just started panting and almost growling for it. He was a very happy boy. And what birthday brunch for a one year old would be complete with out a Bloody Mary? Of course we had to have those! Maybe we have a liquor problem at our house... remember the baby shower that ended up with a guy passed out in our dining room?

So all went well, it was a nice relaxed little get together. I was a little concerned with Abe's demeanor considering that he didn't' take his morning nap, but the little champ held up. He was so happy to have everyone around, and he is doing much better with people besides Declan or I holding him. Thank God. He got lots of great presents, some handknit shorties from my Mom, Declan's Mom made him some pants and some tops, plus lots more clothes and toys. Marley was very excited to go and pick out a present for him, at first there was a lot of talk about just getting hime something that she wanted. She wanted to go to City Sprouts and when there she found a banjo for him, which I think may be his favorite gift of the day. She has a hot pink guitar that he likes to play, and will do anything to get to when it is out. He really lit up when he saw the banjo and even knew how to strum it. I was able to finish the little aran sweater I started for him a couple of weeks ago, and it was adorable on him. Fit perfect too!

I can't believe how big he is now. It's hard for me to even think back to him just a year ago. At this time last year he didn't even have a name, just Baby Boy Gardner. He has 3 more teeth coming in too. I was getting a little worried about his lack of teeth, and he is now sleeping through the night for the most part. He is perfecting his head nodding, and does these real exaggerated nods. We'll ask him things like "Do you love Marley and Mom the best?" Nod, nod, nod. Sometimes he'll even throw in a drawn out "yes" when coaxed. For meal time I pull his high chair up to the table without the tray and it seems to have stopped him from trying to stand up in his highchair. I gave him a plate for the first time tonight, and of course he tries to fling it off the table. So I tell him, "Abe put the plate down." He looks at me and says "down". "Yes, Abe down." So he puts the plate down and nods his head. Sweet boy. Oh he also learned how to climb into the windowsill. It takes him some work to get onto the sofa, but once there he goes straight into the window.

Abe has a thing for bananas. He carries them all over the house and when they burst open, he just sucks out the mashed up banana.

He loved his birthday cake that our friend Marianne made for him. He didn't quite understand blowing out the candle, but Marley helped him with that. He was very excited though about getting this big piece of cake to pick up and smash in his mouth.