0 to 1 in one year

In just 12 short months, we've gone from this

to this
There were a few naps, some formula, a bunch of diapers, hugs, kisses, belly raspberries and a birthday cake invovled too, but it is an impressive transformation, no? I have a hard time with babies. They just suck you try to begin with, but after about 6 months, I start to fall in love and by a year, I am head over heels over my little ones. Bren is at such a great age -- learning and trying so many new things, starting to have a personality. He's not talking yet, but he looks at you and jabbers baby nonsense while nodding convincingly -- we mght not be able to understand him, but he definitely knows what he's saying! He loves clapping and will perform his tricks in order to get applause. He has a new love affair with balls -- he can seriously entertain himself for a solid 30 minutes just throwing and chasing a ball on his own. He is also fasciniated with the process of putting things in and taking them out of containers. Give him some blocks and a box and he's a happy little fellow. He is pretty happy on his own, lately, unless one of the other kids wants me -- then he has to make sure I still love him... usually by shoving the other sibbling out of the way and crawling into my lap. Other than that, Brendan is probably the easiest, happiest, most laid back kid I've had -- and definitely the snuggliest! He is so much fun at this stage that I don't even feel any regret at him being my last baby.