Gabriel is 13 Months!

So much to tell! First of all, we finally have internet access at the house, so no more trips to Starbucks just to try and check my email while a one year old runs around like a crazy person! From now on, we'll try to post something at least once a week, usually with pictures or little videos.

One of the most obvious changes is that we now officially have a toddler in the house! He turned one on the 18th of February, and it seems like he suddenly turned into a little boy instead of being our little baby. He is such a wonderful blessing to us each day! It's amazing how much he has changed since we first met him a year ago, but it's even more amazing to see what parts of his personality have been consistent. He is still very happy, calm and mellow, but he's constantly moving and he's very deliberate. He was even like that in the womb! He is tough and doesn't do much crying, but he makes sure to let us know what he's thinking, wanting, or needing. He still doesn't require much sleep, but I guess that's my fault as I didn't sleep much as a baby either.

He is just learning so much every day these days! Yesterday he learned how to stack blocks up all by himself, and a couple days ago he learned how to carry two things in one hand. He can say "dog," "cat," "duck," "mama," "dada," "eye," "light," and "aiden," although we don't know what the last one means. He always says it when he's happy, and I think he sounds like a little Swedish baby. He was born abroad, after all!

Since the last post, Gabriel has become more independent and opinionated, but also a lot funnier and sillier. He knows that he can be silly, and he knows when Mama and Daddy are being silly. My favorite times are when we all three get tickled and we just fall on the floor and crack up! We also love to play chase/hide-and-seek, and G loves to be a little scared. We'll growl or snort at him and he'll squeal and run for the other parent! He's also copying everything we do, and he tries to mimic our conversation and movements. I must talk on the phone too much, as he's started putting a block to his ear and saying "yayayayayaya," then he'll put the block to my ear and I have to say "yayayayayaya."

As for developmental achievements, I don't even know where to begin. He learned how to stack up blocks (he can do as many as five without knocking the pile over), throw a ball and make it go where he wants it to, slide down a little slide alone, he's trying to run, he can blow bubbles and has learned to climb out the ladder by himself at the pool, he eats just about everything, he is climbing on everything, put things in other things (even if it has to be a certain shape), he dances anytime music is on or we are singing, and he has figured out how to work the DVD player and cable box (whereas Jake and I are still confused).

Gabriel is ready for me to read with him, so I'll have to continue and post the pictures later. Everybody is invited to come visit (just not at the same time), so I hope to see some of you up here in MD soon! Frederick is a neat little historic town, with tons of little places to visit. We are close to the coast, mountains, the Capitol, and NY! Hope to see you soon!