Twelve Months With Walker Phoenix.

We’ve now been with our man for 365 days (+ some) and he is a total love. This past month he has grown into a little toddler! He’s furniture walking, napping in his crib every day, has given up formula, and plays with his toys (rather than just tossing them around.) He knows what we’re saying, mimics sounds back to us, and gives hugs and kisses! He can wave, point, prop himself up on his knees, and crawl faster than some of us can walk. 🙂

The last month has been so fun with Walker. I already shared about his actual birthday, but I didn’t want to forget the month leading up to it. So, here are some pictures of Walker from February.

I feel so proud that we managed to take monthly photos each new month this time around. But sadly, never got him to hold the “12 month” sign!

He spent the month at weekly basketball practices, and being carpooled around places. He started to really play with toys like the airtoobz, and all his object permanence boxes. He also can now get himself onto the slide on the pikler triangle! We moved his play space a bunch of times, but think we finally have it where it’ll stay since the kitchen set had to be anchored into the wall!

He visited the science museum for the first time. His favorite food is guacamole — the spicier the better! He still puts everything in his mouth and chokes on food (and air!) often. It’s really scary. He’s been doing more things that “he’s not supposed to do” and absolutely sobs when you tell him no.

He loves being out and about and loves the front of the shopping cart! It’s hard because it’s so cold and he hates jackets (and hats and gloves) but we make it work. We got a jogging stroller a few months ago and we’ve been using that with blankets more and more. He’s still in the infant seat but we are switching him soon. He is 26 pounds and 31 inches long. He’s in the 97th percentile for weight and the 93rd percentile for height! His four little teeth are so pearly white.

One thing I wanted to do before his birthday was make him a smash cake. I didn’t do one of these for any of the other kids, but had it in my head that I would make him one. The original cake was supposed to be a healthy option and I bought oat flour and used syrup instead of sugar and planned yogurt instead of frosting. Well, it completely failed… like, totally crumbled apart. So the cake he got, was a second version and it was completely sugar and oil.

The actual “smash cake” experience wasn’t all that it’s cracked up to be! We had frosting everywhere. The room, the floor, nearby blankets, all over me… no thank you. But the pictures are cute. Worth it? I’m not sure, but definitely cute.

I’ve loved taking a few minutes each month to reflect on my days with him. I’m not sure if I’ll continue it going forward… but, maybe!