First birthday party planning is well underway. Looking for ideas of what to get our favorite little birthday boy? Look no further! Below are some things that we think he'd like, but as first time parents, we welcome some of your favorite first birthday gift ideas, too.
I'll admit it, I'm a "Bachelor" geek! You know, that ABC hit show that helps crazy, dramatic women and meathead dudes find "love". Yes, it's a ridiculous guilty pleasure of mine. And apparently same goes for my fellow Mallard Court Housewives. So, earlier this fall, while our husbands were obsessing over their fantasy football drafts, the seven of us decided to make the hot mess of a show more interesting by creating a draft for ourselves.
We kicked off the season with draft night, which included watching the first half of the premier and getting a feel for the girls. We then paused the show, and gathered around the table for the draft. Two of the ladies were unable to attend, so they joined via facebook chat. We drew numbers for order, and the draft began. We created rules and a point system, and all threw in ten bucks.
The draft itself was a delicate process. Our point system was based on roses. For each rose a contestant received at the rose ceremony, they were awarded one point. However, there are special roses, those given for first impressions, on group dates and on 1:1 dates, so those special roses were worth extra points since they weren't your ordinary roses. The final rose was worth an additional 5 points. So when drafting, it was important to not only consider who will go the furthest, but you also have to think who will garner points for you by earning 1:1 time with the bachelor, and who will receive special, out of the ordinary roses. We each ended up with 3-4 contestants, depending on the draft order. My girls -- Holly, Emily, Nicki and Casey S.
Let the shitshow begin. :) Each week, we gathered at someone's house, sampled a variety of pinterest recipes and drank delicious margaritas while tuning into the show and gabbing about life. We rooted for our own girls, and trash talked each others.
Halfway through the season, we were joined by Mallard Courts newest members, Julia and Austin.
Twelve weeks later and we arrived at the finale. The draft was a blow out! Whether we liked her or not, Courtney went to the end and stole the show. Her cocky, skinny dipping, attention stealing ways scored her rose after rose, point after point, and she swept the board. Good pick, Kelly! Kelly came in 1st with 29 points and I was a close 2nd scoring 21 points.
Now the question is: will Ben and Courtney survive?? Studies show that in 16 seasons, not one Bachelor has married the girl he picked in the final. Shocker!
I am already looking forward to May 14th and the next season of The Bachelorette. I better start studying up on the contestants to make sure I draft some good ones. And I think we decided we'll play around with the rules/point system a little to make it a little more competitive.
Well, here are we -- the final month of your first year! And as Aunt Coll mentioned, the final month of formula!! I don't know which I'm more excited about! :)
You are growing leaps and bounds and surprising mommy and daddy with new things every day. Teeth 4, 5 & 6 made their debut early in the month, and we've gotten a little break on the teething since then. Your favorite words are "dada", "ut oh" and "ba" (ball). You have a new found love for any type of ball, point it out when you see it, and can find one any time we ask where your ball is. It's funny to watch you take Cooper's tennis ball away from him. Thankfully he is very gentle with you, but as soon as you drop it, he's quick to pick it up.
Playing with Cooper's ball
You have mastered cruising furniture, pushing your push toys, and are learning to stand on your own. Each time is for a few seconds longer than the previous. You are also very interested in going down the stairs, and are practicing very hard to remember to turn around at the top and go down backwards. You still need some reminders, but you are getting very good at it and it's so cute to watch you turn sideways and lay on your belly and then swing your legs around. You have also mastered waving this month, which entails flailing your entire arm up and down, and you also love patting your hand against your mouth while making noise (mommy calls it 'the little indian', especially when we say 'yay!', confusing it with clapping.
I think, in the past, I might have mentioned that you love to eat. You have become quite the independant little eater and love to feed yourself. New favorites include cheese, spaghettios, chicken nuggets, applesauce, hot dogs, nutri-grain bars, tortellini, vanilla wafers, ritz crackers, and kale. Our biggest challenge, new this month, is figuring out how to get you to stop throwing your food on the floor. Nothing seems to phase you - saying "NO" firmly with a deep voice tone, removing the food from in front of you, taking you out of the high chair, giving you only one piece of food at a time, etc. We are desperate for suggestions on how to nix this habit!
You celebrated your first Valentine's Day this month. Due to an ear infection, you spent the day with your favorite Valentine (Mommy), but we made a stop by Miss Dawn's to drop off your Valentine's to your girlfriends at daycare. Everyone loved the special treats you gave them and you got some great stuff in return, including your new bath book from Leah.
We had your first clinical trial follow-up appointment since surgery with U-M Pediatric Oncologists this month. Routine checkups for the next two years are every 3 months and will include a chest, abdomen and pelvic ct scan and/or ultrasound along with blood work to check for any abnormalities. We met with Dr. Mueller a few days later to go over the results and were beyond relieved to learn that everything looks great and there are no concerns! Now mommy and daddy (and everyone else) can breath!!
Best (and cutest) patient ever!
Well, we survived nearly 11 months without ever having to pay for a babysitter. We are so fortunate to be surrounded by such wonderful people who jump at the opportunity to watch you when needed, but it was inevitable - the time for a babysitter had come. I asked around for referrals and found a great babysitter right in the sub. The only problem -- we're competing with all the other young families in the sub for her time, but no worries, we've got a few dates on her calendar, and we can't use her too much or Grandma will be sad!
And last, but certainly not least, we welcomed some beautiful little ladies into the world this past month. First up, a new little girlfriend for you - Miss Emery, who not only lives right down the street, but her mommy and I happen to be great friends, which means, you'll be seeing lots of her! And mommy's cousin Ellen had her baby girl on your 11 month birthday -- your second cousin and first girl on the Young side in over 13 years - Baby Mia!! You already have so many of your own little friends, with some still on the way, and you don't even know it!
Likes:
Veggies Straws
Balls
Mommy's glasses
Splashing in Cooper's water bowl
Being chased - you crawl fast and laugh hard!
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