Duke at 12 Months

It’s Duke’s first birthday!!

This year has been full of many adventures. Maui, Alaska, Portland, and many Reno trips. The everyday-adventures of figuring out life together, going for walks, and learning how to be gentle with the dogs 😉 Although there have been tears and impatience on my end, the laughs and smiles have far outweighed them.

He has such a goofy personality and has brought so much joy into our home. He’s constantly making funny faces, growling like a dog, or squealing with excitement. I just love that he’s goofy. Those of you who know my dad know I was raised in a home of joking and laughter, and it’s so fun seeing that play out in Duke. He loves our doggies, he loves people, and is always busy. He is still nursing, although I think we are nearing the end.

My favorite moments of the day are right before bedtime. He gets really crazy, and Greg and I typically go into his room to spend spend focused, quality time together. We sing “Jesus Loves You” after he nurses, and then we pray with him right before we put him down. He snuggles in close and then goes down without a fuss (most of the time)

We see so many strengths in his personality. He is playful and can make any situation brighter with his smile. He’s a semi-quick learner, but doesn’t rush himself. He’s focused and not easily distracted. He smiles most when he’s connecting and making eye contact with people. The littlest things make him happy. He’s a daredevil and loves being thrown in the air (a little too high for the comfort of most people!) His hand eye coordination is great, and I think we’ll make a tremendous athlete 🙂 Like most kids, he’s very resilient and adaptable. He knows what he wants and goes after it…and cries when he can’t have it. He’s a sinner already!

Part of me wants to dwell in sadness that this year is over, and we’ll never get it back. But the other part of me is so excited for what’s to come. I know tomorrow is never guaranteed, and I’ve been trying to get better at soaking in everyday. The fact that he’s still nursing. Watching him learn and explore. We go for walks every morning and I pray over him. Soaking in all his little grunts, coos, and sounds. He was sick this month and spent many nights in our bed. Maybe God knew those snuggles are just what my mama-heart needed. He enjoyed a trip to Reno and his cousins fawned over him, again. They went to the dollar store and all picked out a present for him. He’s the luckiest little cousin. We celebrated his first Thanksgiving, and he ate as much as I did!

Greg and I are constantly in awe that God chose us to be his parents. We feel so blessed, but are relying on God to help us train Him in the way He should go. We pray that he will be a leader, as his name suggests. That he would lead his friends and peers closer to the Lord. That he would be kind. That He would know Christ at a young age. That his wife, wherever she is, would be raised in a good home and their marriage would be an awesome one.

This year has been quite the adventure – and I’m excited for all that’s to come.

Happy one year, little buddy. We love you so much.

New Tricks:

• He can climb the stairs (quickly!)
• He’s taken a few steps by himself
• He can sign “more”
• He can climb pretty much anything
• He can head the soccer ball (we taught him how and now he’s obsessed!)
• He can also kick the soccer ball if we hold his hands and let him walk.
• He finally learned how to drink out of a sippy cup!

What He Likes:

• Climbing the stairs and walking down them
• Playing with the soccer ball
• Chasing the dogs
• Drinking water
• Taking showers
• Swinging
• He loves when we sniff his feet

What He Doesn’t Like:

• Having his face wiped
• When we tell him “No” or take toys away
• When we pick him up when he’s trying to do something dangerous. He wines and wines

How He Spent His Birthday: