12 months

Where did this last year go? It blows my mind that we have had Damon in our family for a year already, but at the same time it feels like that's how it's always been. I guess that's because it has. He has always been ours. Damon has always been a really healthy baby, but of course on his birthday, he is sick.  I took him to the doctor and he has a viral infectious cough that just has to run its course. So, I have had to change his birthday party to a week after his birthday. This past month, Damon got another tooth. That makes 9 teeth (all four on top and bottom front area and then his first molar- the bottom right side) This molar has been a killer! I will tell you that. Or at least, I like to use it as an excuse for Damon's crankiness. Our typical day consists of us spending the majority of the time in my parents family room. And by that, I mean that it is barricaded off and serves as a baby prison in Damon's mind. Now that he is on his feet, he wants to explore EVERYWHERE. He wants to wander the whole house. He doesn't crawl anymore unless he is pushing a toy car around or trying to go up or down stairs.

A few things he loves right now are:

• Yogurt Melts (Parents Choice brand from Walmart)
• Veggie Munchies (Same brand ^)
• Brooms
• Vaccumes (he will throw a fit if you are not holding him while you vaccume)
• Cars (he likes to push them around on the floor while he walks on all four limbs like Mogley from Jungle Book)
• Climbing onto the couches- back and forth all day long
• His duck stuffed animal bath toy
• Bobbing his head to music
• Trying to drink from everyone's food and drinks (still figuring out how to use a straw so it's usually messy)
• Being outside
• Animals (I'll go ahead and claim that he got that from me ;-) )

A few things he doesn't love right now are:

• When I walk away
• Being stuck in one place for too long
• Being tied down to anything (highchair, carseat, stroller, etc)
• Getting Dressed
• Getting Diaper Changes
• Wearing Shoes (getting better at that)
• Wearing anything on his head (hats or sunglasses)

We just love him to pieces of course! He is becoming more challenging, but more fun every day it seems. He still doesn't sleep through the night. We are working on that in a few different ways during his daytime naps. He is improving slowly but surely. He started getting to the point where he was throwing temper tantrums (didn't get that from me) a lot. I think that was because he was feeling a little bit jealous whenever other kids were around taking some of my attention away from him. He has become a little bit more needy lately because of me working on his sleeping habits I think. I have tried the CIO method and I think that's why. I kept putting this sleep training off because of one reason after another. I didn't want to have him in there screaming his head off if he wasn't feeling well or if he was teething (which he is ALWAYS teething) so it's gotten put off way too long. I should have done it when he was younger, but I was selfish and wanted him to cuddle with me all the time. He is not a cuddler either. He is currently in 24 month and 2T clothing and size 3 diapers. 

Height-33 in

Weight-21.2 lbs

Head Circumference- 51.5 cm

Big thanks to Rachel Harker Photography for taking these gorgeous pictures!!