August Samuel~ONE YEAR OLD!

Happy, happy Birthday Auggie Boy! You are the big O-N-E and we cannot believe how fast this year has gone. I remember so many little details from the day you were born. Grandma and Grandpa came and picked up Em. Daddy and I held hands on our way to the hospital. We felt so calm and happy the entire day. Surrounded by prayers, everything was perfect. I got to hold you the very minute you were born and your eyes followed Daddy's voice. Emery Kayt stayed up late to meet you and she was quietly in awe. We all were. 

A year later you have brought us more laughs and joy than we ever thought possible. 

You deserve the happiest of days (and weeks--we celebrate the whole time around here!) and we hope you can feel the love pouring out for you. You are a lucky little boy!

You are still in size three diapers but we will probably move up soonish. Twelve month shirts fit perfect but that size in shorts about hit your ankles ha! You have the shortest little legs and just the tiniest feet. You are finally starting to fit in the shoes we bought you for Christmas. Makes me wonder what you will be built like. You are not chubby at all (well, except for your sweet cheeks) so I am not sure where you put all of the food you eat. You LOVE to eat and you love everything put in front of you. I really don't know if you have a favorite because you just devour whatever we are having. You also take after Em and love a snack and some water. If one is having some you can bet the other is begging for something too. You will smack your lips when you want a drink and want bites of anything I have. I hope you continue to be a good eater! Just this week we made your last formula bottle. We figured it was kind of dumb to buy more and after one sip of milk, you were hooked! Such a big boy!

You had to get your fourth hair cut this week. I still get tickled at your curly blonde locks. I just never pictured having a little boy with that. It has been long and crazy lately--when I comb it you get the whole feathered look. Very mature ha! We went with a big boy cut this time and you are looking wayyyy too big now. When I rock you I love to look at your long blonde eye lashes. Those lashes, your blue eye, that hair....watch out ladies! You have two teeth on the bottom right now that make your ear-to-ear grin so cute. I have a feeling that you are going to have a mouth full all of a sudden because we can see/feel six big bumps and one of your top fangs is already poking through--just like Em did.

You have been an up and down sleeper. For the most part we cannot complain at all. You used to ware yourself out so much during the day that you would sleep all night. Lately we have struggled but I think what we are doing is working and you are getting back on track. I have always spoiled you and given in to holding you while you take naps but lately I have been laying you down some too and that has been going better than expected. I still give in and get cozy with you from time to time! We just fit so perfectly together. You sleep in a big sleep sack with pacis all around you at night. You are not a stuffed animal or blanket kind of kid.

 You are still not really a toy lover. You will check them out but then move right on to cabinets, climbing or standing by me. You do like to play get everything out in Emery's room and crash into what ever she is doing. She will come tell us that she is "frusterated" and you will just grin your silly grin. You have become a lover of the cozy coupe recently. You climb in and dive out a million times a day. You even get jealous when Emery or someone is playing with it and try to pull them out. You definitely think it is yours! When you are not busy hanging on me, pestering Em or diving out of your car, you are chasing balls and throwing them. This makes Daddy pretty happy.

This month has been the month of learning and new tricks. You are not much of a talker--Dada, Mommmma, Nana but we can tell that you know other words--ball, bottle, sippy, snack, hair, tongue, belly, dance, kick, clap. You have caught on to some of Emery's songs and love it when she sings patty-cake. You will show us your hair and tongue and will reach up as high as you can to show us how big you are. The other night you would act like you were going to kiss me then shake your head no and just laughhhh. You often think you are funny and will give yourself a round of applause after any little trick. You are so close to walking. You have taken up to six steps and try constantly but I really think you just need to slow your roll. You go 100 miles a minute, always. You will even put your head down to try and crawl faster (which is hilarious to see and often ends in you running into something.) I have always said you are over the top, happy or sad. You are loud either way too. Everything about you keeps me on my toes and has me falling in love with you more everyday.

We love you so much baby boy. You have made this the best year yet. 

Happy birthday, August Samuel Jansen, Happy birthday to you!!

*Photo Cred: It was impossible to pick just a few of my favorites from Auggie's birthday pictures. I love each and every one of them because:

A. Sharon took them. Sharon and Auggie kind of have a thing. I know he holds a special place in her heart and her sweet Ian holds a very special place in ours. It meant a lot for her to take them.

B. The glove, bat and field were all Doug's. I wonder how many baseball games I watched from the stands in Newton. Having Auggie sit on that mound with the glove I bought Doug a longgg time ago of course did a number on my heart strings. I love stuff like that. Hidden memories in memories.