Football!

Michael was born at the beginning of football season last year, but, being a newborn, wasn't too into it. This year, however, he is ready to cheer for the Bulldogs! (Well, and the yellow jackets, unfortunately, but mostly the dawgs.) He got to watch his first game on TV yesterday, but spent most of his time exploring his friend Brooks's house. He managed to still have fun, even though Mommy was very sad at how the game turned out. After the game, he got to practice his football in the front yard for a while in his red and black. Click here for the full photo shoot. (His birthday pictures are at the end of this link.)

Here are a few of my favorites.

Grandma is a football fan, too.

From September 2010

Michael and Mommy

From September 2010

Getting ready to punt

From September 2010

Down. Set. HIKE!

From September 2010

Looking for a receiver.

From September 2010

He may have gotten a little distracted by this leaf.

From September 2010

But then he gets right back into the game! Look at that focus!

From September 2010

All Smiles!

From September 2010

You'll notice that Daddy is suspiciously absent from all of these pictures. He was at work. He'll have to be very sneaky if he wants to get any GA Tech shots.

Happy First Birthday!

Michael turned 1 last weekend! I can't believe how fast this year has flown by. He will always be my baby, but it's crazy to think of how quickly he is growing.

He is walking everywhere, and getting into everything. We took him to the park this week, and he was exploring and got fairly far away from us (under our close supervision, of course) and never once looked back to make sure we were still there. He even fell once, and a strange girl helped him up, and he just grinned at her. He is so adventurous and independent. This could be trouble! But I'm glad he is confident and secure. We did have to intervene, however, when he started eating the mulch.

He is eating regular people food now for most meals. And he's drinking whole milk, which is WAY easier than making formula. Still no teeth...we're expecting one any day now.

We haven't identified any official first words yet, but he babbles all the time, and he likes to point at pictures in his book. He is especially "chatty" on the way home from daycare. I guess he's telling us all about the fun he had that day.

Here are some of the highlights from his birthday party below. If you want to see more, check out our link on Picassa. (There are also some football pictures there.)

Michael tells us he is ONE, with a crown his daycare teacher made for him.

From September 2010

His birthday cake.

From September 2010

Chilling with his Grandma Judy and his buddies Jennifer and Matthew..

From September 2010

Guests were getting a little wild and crazy....

From September 2010

From September 2010

Some pictures before he devoured the cake...

From September 2010

From September 2010

From September 2010

Getting ready to sing happy birthday.

From September 2010

And, of course, the cake-smashing...

From September 2010

He liked that first bite! Going back for some more...

From September 2010

Where's my next piece?

From September 2010

Yummy!

From September 2010

And finally...

From September 2010

Birthday parties make me tired!

From September 2010

A few other 12 month highlights:
* Loves to play peek-a-boo or hide-n-seek. He will crawl into his closet and "hide" behind the door and then laugh and laugh when we pull it open.
* He wears 12 month onesies, but can still fit into 6 month pants.
* He loves bananas, green beans, squash, and all unrefined carbs, but is not a fan of avocado.
* He climbs on everything, especially his baby gate. He's can zip up our stairs at home, too.
* He is very curious and loves exploring new places.
* He likes to ride on Mommy and Daddy's shoulders or in his baby bike trailer.
* He loves it when he gets to see people walking their dogs in the front yard.