journeys with jax and oliver: Happy 1st Birthday, Jackson!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Happy 1st Birthday, Jackson!

There it is: that candid 1-year-old photograph of Jackson Scott.

This month has brought with it so much growing and changing for this beautiful boy. Now, Justin and I must just grow used to saying that we have a 1-year-old. It's so hard to believe! Since I last updated you, Jax started "cruising" on furniture and then very quickly progressed to "walking" with the aid of his rolling toys. He can also crawl up the stairs--entirely--from bottom step to the newly-installed baby gate at the top of the stair case. We are anxiously awaiting his first independent steps which are most certainly just around the corner!

Jackson "talks" constantly (wonder where he gets that from?), and this month has brought the dawn of what I like to call "nonsense" sentences. It is so precious to listen to him jabber using inflection and varying volumes--no real words, mind you. I cannot say he has truly learned any new words this month, but he is beginning to "parrot" adults when they speak to them . . . such as repeating "Hi Daddy" after me or what sounds like "Thank you." Tonight, mom and I swear we heard him repeat "Red Lobster." Maybe we're getting a bit over zealous?

Jackson was completely transitioned off of infant formula this month as well (and our wallets are thanking him). Instead, he drinks whole milk with his meals. Never taking a sippy cup, Jackson skipped straight into those toddler cups with the pop up straws (and loves them!). We joke that it's because he doesn't have to turn them up--after all, he literally never held his own bottle. Lazy boy! Soon, we are going to begin working on learning to use a spoon by himself--brave, I know.

On every other front, however, Jackson is anything but lazy! This month he learned to clap his hands . . . them clap them whenever we sing "Pat-A-Cake," and to follow the command "up and down." That translates to bending at the knees when we say "down" and then popping back up when we say "up." Think "baby squats." *grin* Hilariously, Jackson also learned to shake his head "NO" this month. Thankfully, he hasn't picked up disobeying our requests yet. However, we get a good laugh when he starts to do something he knows he's not supposed to do . . . and automatically shakes his head "NO" on his way to do it. Hey, at least he's been listening, right? His favorite things to play with are paper and empty water bottles. Go figure!

We go for his check-up on Tuesday, so I'll have to keep you posted on his height and weight. He eats like a piggy . . . but is still fairly slim . . . still wearing size 12-18 months! Maybe that's from all of his new exercise!

Now, for what you've really been waiting for: photos from his big day!