12 month stats

Luke saw Dr. Selig yesterday for his 1 year check-up.  Despite his 2nd ear infection last week, he's a pretty healthy little man!

Weight:  22 lbs, 4.5 oz (50-75%)
Length:  30.5 (75%)
Head: 18 3/4 (90%)

For reference his 9 month stats were:
Weight: 20 lbs, 3 oz (50%)
Length: 29 in (75 %)
Head: 18 1/4 (90 %)

And his 6 month stats were:
Weight: 18 lbs, 7 oz (60%)
Length: 27 1/2 in (75 %)
Head: 17 3/4 in (90%)

And his 4 month stats were:
Weight: 16 lbs, 6.5 oz (75%)
Length: (almost) 26" long (75%)
Head: 17" head circumference (90%!)

Honestly, I'm a little shocked that he's still so big (relatively) with two shorties for parents.  But we'll take it!

Big thing now is switching to milk.  Our doctor is pretty cut and dried "you are the parent, you decide what, when and how much of whatever you want to give him".  She suggested cold turkey switch from formula to milk unless he doesn't seem to like it.  Hopefully he's nothing like his mama and will gobble it up like a good boy.  I know our bank account will be very appreciative.

He's also proving to be the poster-boy for the "good eater turns picky eater" that I've been reading about in my weekly baby/toddler emails.  I guess it's normal around this age for them to start showing their independence by choosing not to eat what you put in front of them.  He used to INHALE mac n cheese - now it's 2 bites and he starts spitting it out like it's dirt.  He still loves all fruit, cottage cheese and anything breakfast related (waffles, french toast, toast with jelly, oatmeal with bananas and brown sugar {my favorite}).  We've had breakfast for dinner on more than a couple of occasions!

For those of you on Facebook, you saw a post a week or so ago about Luke refusing to sleep for his first nap.  Sure enough, as soon as he went back to Callan's, Adelia was able to get him napping again.  First day was on the couch, but the rest of the week was back in the pack n play.  They're not anything longer than an hour, but it's better than nothing.  So we'll wait to see how things go and eventually he'll move to one nap.

Here are some of the highlights right now:

• Loves to hide in the curtains and play peek-a-boo
• Waves 'bye-bye' all the time
• Points to nose, ears, mouth, eyes (mostly only for Adelia but when he wants to he'll do it for us)
• A very good independent player....he can entertain himself and talks and jabbers like he's got a little friend with him!
• He has an imagination - I wish we could hear what he's thinking because we can just tell by the looks on his face and how he'll play or do something with purpose that he's not just meandering around.  He's DOING something!
• He loves to walk backwards....and sometimes in a circle.  Crazy kid!
• Has been waking in the night more often than normal and usually just wants to be held.  Same with naps - will fall right asleep but wakes the second you put him down.  Getting into scary territory here...we do not want to be tied down to holding/rocking him (as much as I'd love to) all the time.
• Has been waking EARLY - like 5-5:30 some days.  Some days he'll play in his crib until 6 and the rare day he sleeps until 6-6:30.  This makes for two tired parents.

Our baby certainly is turning the corner into toddler-hood.  He's got a big weekend coming up....everyone is coming to town to celebrate his birthday!  We have a small house and it wouldn't come close to fitting both of our families, so we decided to have it out in the 'burbs where hotels are less expensive and have pools - so all the nieces can go swimming.  We are so excited to see everyone, it's been a long time since both families have been together....maybe our wedding?  I know Luke will never remember this weekend, but I will always remember our first born's first birthday.