He Walks!

Logan started walking the past week.  Here is a video of him in action.

A Perry Family Christmas 2011

We have been busy this month getting ready for Christmas.  We started with a trip to one of the local farms for the Perry Family Christmas tree.  Last year when we took Logan, he was only 4 weeks old.  What a difference a year makes. 

Keeping his eye out for a perfect tree

Found it!

Also, our decorated tree looks a lot different this year than from years past.  We do not have any ornaments on the bottom half of the tree.  Logan does not mess with the tree too much.  He just likes to pat it like he does Rocky.  But I would rather not take my chances that he is going to take off ornaments and try to eat them. 

Last year's picture

We went to see Santa last week.  Logan, as I predicted, cried as soon as he was placed on Santa's lap.  I cannot get enough of pictures of babies crying on Santa's lap.  I think they are such great pictures and I am so happy we have one of our boy doing the same thing.

Again, last year.  I love comparing!

I don't think he calmed down enough to tell Santa what he wants.  Some how, I think Santa will get the message.

13 Months Old

I am not going to do the bear pictures anymore.  I think that is a little much to do every month after turning a year old.  However, as life permits, I will still try to do the month in review.

Logan's Up 2 audition photo

Over the past month, Logan has become quite the climber.  He can now climb all the way up the stairs without falling (not that I would give him the opportunity to).  He also loves to climb on the fireplace hearth.  He will sit up there so proud of himself, like it is his throne.  I wish he would learn how to climb down without face planting.

Logan's love affair with books continues to reach new heights.  If you ask him to "pick out a book," he crawls right over to the basket and pulls one, or 5, out.  And he has recently started to have favorite books.  I find I read some 20 times a day.  He also wants to share his passion for reading.  The other day he took a book to Rocky.  The dog was very confused.

While Logan is not walking by himself, he is walking all around the house while holding on to a hand.  He loves to walk and would do it all day if I would oblige.  He really loves to walk with something in his free hand: a sippy cup, a car, a book for the dog.  When I tire, he loves to push anything he can around.  His spends as much time pushing his Cozy Coupe as he does riding in it.

Logan learned to wave a few months ago but now loves to wave at dogs.  Every morning, he waves at Rocky when we come down the stairs.  Whenever Rocky comes into the room, he waves at him.  He did the same thing with Mackie's dog over Thanksgiving.  He will also wave if you say "say hi to (insert dog's name)." 

Over the past month, Logan seems to be playing with different toys.  He still loves his stacking rings and cups, but he now also loves to play with trucks and love on stuffed animals.  He also loves to push things like balls and cars.

Helping Momma pack for Thanksgiving

Logan's only recent new word is "yeah" or "yeah, yeah."  He did it all the time for a few days with a head nod.  He has now dropped saying "yeah" and will just do an exaggerated head bang.  He also loves to make a motion that seems to convey "I don't know" or "what is that?"  He did it non-stop the 1st day that we arrived in Florida.  He also thinks he can moo like a cow.  Ask him "what does a cow say" and Logan responds with "mmmmmm."  It's so cute.

Logan, while still finicky at times, he has become a better eater.  He usually eats what we are eating for dinner.  He loves Mexican food as much as his Daddy does, which is a good thing since I seem to cook so much of it.  And I am finally to the point where he feeds himself everything except oatmeal and yogurt.  This is liberating.  While he likes to eat, Logan seems to have a weird negative association with food.  He will not eat in front of a group of people.  More than 3 or 4 people in the room and he will not eat.  We learned this the hard way at Thanksgiving.  We now know to make adjustments for Christmas so we don't have another holiday meal meltdown.

Enjoying a snack

Thanksgiving in Florida

This year for Thanksgiving, we packed up and headed south to Florida for the holiday.  It had been four years since we traveled for Thanksgiving and man is it a crazy holiday to travel for.  And we traveled on off days!

Logan, despite being mobile now as compared to our last flight, did great on the plane.  He is such a good traveler.  We arrived late afternoon on Sunday into Ft. Myers airport and made our way to Mackie's house.  Logan enjoyed playing on the golf course grass.

Uncle Bryan came into town for Sunday night and Uncle Kyle arrived back home after a long weekend trip.  On Monday, we traveled to a local park for some fun in the sun.  Logan had a great time on the swing and going down slides, but he loved the splash part of the park.  He even still loved it after it blasted him in the face.

Looks like a FL native in his sleeveless shirt and jean shorts!

After a nap, Logan got some more face time with water.  We took him into the pool.  Six months ago, he hated the pool!  But he loved it this time.  

On Tuesday, Mackie, Uncle Kyle, Logan, Daddy and Momma headed north to Ft. Myers Beach to see a sand sculpting competition.  It is unbelievable to see what some people can create out of sand.  Logan is a true New Englander and cannot stand the heat.  After turning red and just looking miserable for a while, he finally fell asleep in the stroller.   

Not asleep yet, but so miserable

1st place

2nd place

Now he's asleep

Passed out

After getting out of the sun, we headed for some ice cream, which Logan loved.

Later that afternoon we headed down to the beach for the sunset and to take some pictures of our family of three.  Logan really enjoyed playing in the sand and on the shore.

Someone did not want to wear the Santa hat

Mackie - what are you putting on my foot?!

With Uncle Kyle and Mackie

Logan loved the water at the beach, too!

Tuesday night, Matt and I had our first date night since the weekend before Logan was born.  Mom babysat Logan while Matt and I treated ourselves to a nice dinner.  I love Logan, but it was so nice to go out on a date.  Matt and I almost did not know what to do with ourselves!

On Wednesday we visited with Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa and readied ourselves for Thanksgiving the next day. 

On Thanksgiving, Logan played in the morning with Uncle Kyle and then Uncle Bryan and Dre showed up to play with also.  Most of the day was spent just hanging out with family until the big meal later in the afternoon.

Playing with Uncle Kyle

And Mackie and her dog, Lexie!

Logan played peak-a-boo with that door for days

Anyone up for 18 holes?

Hanging with Uncle Bryan

Uncle Kyle is so mean

Logan was really tired by the time we got dinner on the table and a little hungry.  That was not a good combination.  He was not open to trying new food which was unfortunate, but I hope that Christmas meal will go over better.

Happy Thanksgiving.  Logan may look asleep, but he's just bored with his food.

We headed back home on Friday and Logan was once again a super star on the plane.  Overall, we had such a great time being able to spend the holiday with family.

1 Year Old!!!

Yes, one year.  My baby boy is one year old.  He is looking more and more like a little boy everyday instead of a baby.  I cannot believe how quickly the first year of his life has gone by.  I am guessing that it only speeds up from here.

With Logan’s 1 year birthday, came his next doctor’s appointment.  He weighs 20 lbs, 2 oz and is 30 inches long.  In comparison, he was 7 lbs, 5 oz and 20 inches at birth.  His weight has dropped off a little in percentages to just under 20% but his height has stayed steady at 50%.  The doctor continues to be impressed with his development and always has complements for how well behaved he is during the exam.  Logan received 4 shots today.  Boo!  But he did very well with them.

The boy loves to eat toilet paper!

In the past month he has mastered four words: ball, bye, momma and dada.  His favorite is dada which he will babble all day and then say it with meaning once Matt gets home from work. 

Logan started giving kisses a few months ago, but he was very selective with when he would give them out.  Now, he gives big, wet, slobbery kisses all the time.  When I am sitting on the floor, he will cruise over to me via the ottoman and just plant a big one, or three, on my cheek.  Love it!

The boy loves to clap.  He will clap when you ask him to or when you say the phrase “good job.”  He will also clap for himself when he is proud of something he has just done.  He also frequently claps while eating.  I think he is applauding the meal I have just made for him. 

Along with clapping, Logan started waving bye.  He will do it when someone has left the room and says “bye.” 

Adding to his party tricks is a demonstration of love for a stuffed dog we call “Doug.”  If you ask Logan “Do you love Doug,” he will crawl over to him, face plant on the dog and rub his face in the dog’s body while kicking his legs.

Logan enjoys “walking” around the house.  He loves to hold on to a finger from each one of your hands as he guides you all around the house.  When he finds Rocky, he usually lets out a noise of excitement and speeds up.    

Developmentally, Logan continues to learn new things.  He has become a problem solver.  It is so much fun to watch him figure out how to solve a problem.  As a one year old, his problems usually consist of how to play with a toy in one specific manner.  He is also developing more hand-eye coordination.  He places the rings back on the base and places his stacking cups into one another.  He will usually clap for himself once he has done one of these tasks.

Logan is starting to become a sharer.  When eating Cheerios, or “o’s” as we call them, he loves to share them by feeding them to me.  However, he usually will not share his cheese.  He loves his cheese.

Logan is eating more and more “grown up” food.  It is nice to not to have to make as much baby food.  But, he has also become a more finicky eater.  Things he loves one day, he will not touch the next.  Also, sometimes he will not try new things.  I am hoping it is just a phase. 

Rocky's new position when Logan eats.

Every month that I do the monthly update, I am blown away to see how much he has changed in just 30ish days.  But reflecting back on one year is almost mind blowing.  The first year with my little boy has been such a joy that I can only imagine that it gets better and better.  Happy Birthday, Logan!  Below are pictures taken on the eve of and on his special day.

Opening presents with Nana and Daddy the night before his birthday

The Big Day!

His present from Momma and Daddy. 

He loved it!

Faster Daddy

Opening presents with Mackie

And with Uncle Kyle

Happy Birthday to Logan!

He had fun playing with it, but did not eat a bite.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"