Happy Birthday Ollie Boy!

It just doesn't seem real that I am sitting down to write our sweet little baby's first birthday post!  One year ago you came into this world (very punctually, on your due date), and our lives haven't been the same since.  You've had quite an adventurous first year - being born without a doctor, traveling internationally at 2 months, many day and weekend trips, experiencing the 'Brazilian way of life' - and it's our hope and prayer that these experiences are helping shape you into the person God has designed you to be.  

You bring us so much joy with your sweet smile (you've got three teeth right now - two in the middle on the bottom and one snaggle tooth on the left up top) and belly laughs, and we love watching you learn and grow.  You were what we called a 'dream baby' your first three months of life, sleeping anywhere and staying happy when you were awake, and then month four hit...haha.  You started waking up a TON at night (we're talking 8-10 times every night) and this lasted for months.  You were very agitated during the day, would only stop crying when you were in mommy's arms, and had trouble napping as well :( At your first birthday, you are finally starting to figure out this night time thing and have had about three good weeks of sleep.  I think we've made it through the roughest patch, and you're starting to get the hang of things!

You have the fuzziest little head full of blonde hair.  It doesn't look like you have too much hair from a distance, but that's just because the color is so light.  In reality, it sticks up all over the place and there is no better word I can think of to describe it besides 'fuzzy.'  Your eyes have stayed a pretty blue and is the main attraction wherever we go.  You had some trouble gaining weight for several months, and mommy and daddy even had to take you in for some blood work because the doctor was concerned...but praise the Lord everything was alright, and after increasing your solids and (unfortunately) making the change to formula, you finally started to pack on the pounds and are turning into quite the (handsome) little chunk.  You also had a huge growth spurt height wise - you went from wearing 3-6 month clothes to 9-12 month clothes in just one month!  

You're moving around all over the place!  You've been crawling for a little over the month and also love to pull yourself up on anything and everything.  You can walk holding on to furniture and love to clap your hands.  Another new conquest is climbing up the two stairs in our living room (although you haven't quite learned how to get back down).  You find so much joy in pulling things out of drawers/off of counters/out of bags and mommy and daddy are constantly 'redirecting' your attention to clean up your messes, haha.  You also love to put things in your mouth - yuck - so we are constantly having to keep an eye on you!

You absolutely adore your big brother Carter and think he is the funniest thing you ever did see :) You love watching him be silly and also love playing with the toys in his room (sometimes to his dismay...).  And, believe it or not, you are going to be a big brother in just two months!  Your little sister is due to arrive in July.  I'm not quite sure how we're going to manage, especially with two so young, but I know you'll have a great time growing up together. (But if you could do a little more 'growing up' before she gets here, I sure would appreciate it!).

We love you so much sweet boy and pray you come to know the love and salvation of our Heavenly Father at a young age.  We could not be happier to have you on this adventure with us and hope you cherish the experiences you're having growing up in a different culture, sharing the love of Jesus with others.  Here is a song I sing over you daily:

"Give [him] one pure and holy passion

Give [him] one magnificent obsession

Give [him] one glorious ambition for [his] life

To know and follow hard after You

To know and follow hard after you

To grow as your disciple in your truth

This world is empty, pale, and poor

Compared to knowing you, my Lord

Lead [him] on and [he] will run after you

Lead [him] on and [he] will run after you"

And now for your birthday survey:

How old are you? 

1

What makes you happy?
eating, watching big brother, playing in brother's room, learning new things (i.e. clapping your hands, pulling up, crawling up the stairs), going outside

When do you laugh?
when we tickle you under the arms and blow raspberries on your belly, when brother goofs around in front of you, when we play peek-a-boo

What is something Mommy always says to you? 

"Hi my sweet boy!"

What is something Daddy always says to you? 

"Who's that?!" (when you come crawling around the corner or when he's getting you from your car seat)

What is your favorite thing to eat? 

EVERYTHING! But watermelon might be the winner...yum!

What is your favorite thing to do? 

play in your big brother's room, play outside, follow mama around, make a mess (seriously, you love pulling everything off the shelves/out of the drawers and as soon as we clean one thing up, you've gotten into another!)

What are you really good at? 

crawling, spinning in a circle, pulling up on anything and everything, eating, screaming...

What is your favorite song?
Mama always sings to you before you go to sleep and the songs that always seem to calm you the most are 'Lead Me To The Cross,' 'In Christ Alone,' 'In The Secret,' and 'Breathe.'  And you really like it when Carter sings 'Jesus Loves Me' to you.

Who is your best friend?
Mommy

What do you and Mommy do together? 

everything: eat, play, read books, sing, go outside, get dressed, take baths

What do you and Daddy do together? 

tickle, play on the floor, play Call of Duty

Where is your favorite place to go? 

Anywhere that gives you a change of scene (so long as it's not for too long of a period...).  You go to the mall and grocery shopping with us a lot, and of course to church on Sundays!

What is your favorite book? 

Hmmm, it took you a little bit of time to catch on to 'reading' with mommy, but right now we are enjoying chapter books before your bedtime and naps.  We just finished two of the books in the Amber Brown series.  We've also read a LOT of Little Golden Books and many fairy tales in Portuguese.

Here are some pictures from your first year of life.  We love you!!!