Ezra Turns One

Andrew, William, Peter, Ezra, Robin, Jonathan, Christina, and Peter
Singing Happy Birthday, Ezra was uncertain about that.
(Not pictured- my parents and Aunt Debra) 

Ezra is officially one year old! We had a really low-key celebration for him on his birthday (31 December). I've been sick for a week, we have been trying to figure out housing things and life has been crazy. Good thing he's one and has no expectations! It's been great to have Ezra as part of our family for the past year. He is a delightful little guy and we love him. We first opened presents. Ezra did not understand this at all, but with a little help from Jonathan and Peter, he got them open.

Ezra and his new broom! He loves it. 

Ezra loves brooms and vacuums. He gets mad and will cry endlessly if I vacuum or sweep without letting him help. So, he got his own little broom so he can still help me and I can actually get things clean! He might end up getting a little vacuum in the future. 

Ezra's new shoes

Ezra got some new shoes- he's worn through his pretty good, and these ones have a little thicker sole, so they will hopefully be a little better for keeping his feet warm and safer when he's traversing outside. He also got some cute new clothes, some little treats, a soft little frog, and some dinosaurs.

Ezra's conquering face

Fruit pack for birthday!!

Ezra Loves
- Food: but only on his terms. He does not like to be fed food. He wants to hold the fork or spoon. It's messier, but it's the only way he'll eat. He likes to eat most everything. He loves those little applesauce packs, sandwiches, pasta, fruit, cooked carrots, squash, anything with meat in it, beans....pretty much everything we give him, he will eat.
- Climbing....everything. He has learned how to climb onto chairs and has made it onto the table twice. Going up stairs is a breeze (still slow going down). If he can hold onto it, he'll try to climb it.
- Dogs, we've been living with my parents for the last couple weeks, and they have a dog, Lucy. Ezra loves Lucy. For the first week, he would squeal any time he saw the dog. He follows her around and if she sits down he tries to sit right next to her.
- Being thrown in the air or spun- this always makes Peter a little nervous, even now, but Ezra loves is! He laughs and laughs. If he's sad, give him a couple tosses up in the air and he's back to happy.
- Peter: Ezra loves his brother so much. It's fun to watch them together. Ezra is starting to get agile enough to wrestle back and play a little rougher. Give him another year and I think he'll outweigh Peter and be able to take him down pretty easily!
- Baths- always an adventure, and now that he is steady, it's easier to bathe him and he loves splashing and playing with bath toys. He got a little octopus toy with little rings for Christmas, and he loves that.

Ezra's not a baby anymore!

Peter, Jonathan and Ezra playing with the new dinosaurs

Peter playing a lively game of "keep the balloon in the air"

Ezra Dislikes

- Being told no, or not being allowed to climb things or get into things

- Diaper changes- I'd forgotten how much a small body can twist until recently. 

- That's about it, as long as he's had sleep and is fed, he's pretty happy

- Cuddling- he still doesn't cuddle a ton, only when he's just up from a nap he'll lay his head on my shoulder when we're walking, for a minute, sometimes if he's tired. If you try to lay down with him and snuggle in bed, he'll just pop up and try to crawl around. On rare occasion, he'll fall asleep nursing and I'll just hold him curled up for a bit because I never get to hold him in my lap like that.

Abilities

- Walking, sometimes really fast

- Climbs 

- He has a good pincher-grasp- can pick up things with finger and thumb

- Still 6 teeth

- Usually only wakes up one time at night

- Babbles a ton, but not many real words yet. Says Mama and Ez (we don't know if he says that to mean himself or just likes the sound)

- Understands lots of verbal commands and questions- no, sit, want some food?, come here, etc

- We started teaching him some sign language, he knows food....of course, and working on please, thank you, more and all done.

Birthday cupcakes

After Ezra opened presents and the boys played for a bit, we sang Happy Birthday to Ezra and had some cupcakes. The singing was my favorite part. Ezra just sat really quietly and stared at us. He was very uncertain about that. But, once he had a cupcake, he was totally fine with life.

Slightly concerned with the singing.

Jonathan showing Ezra how to blow out the candle.

Devouring the cupcake!

We sure love Ezra. He's a good boy full of smiles. He loves us and is always happy to see Jonathan when he comes home from work. Ezra is learning more every day! Happy Birthday big boy!