Man, 1 years goes by FAST!

[n2advnture]

Well, Brandon turns 1 year old tomorrow!

The whole year has been crazy with adjusting to a baby. Sold all the motorcycles, moved to a single family home from a town home, prepared for his arrival, etc...(ie stress)

Then there is the figuring out what the F to do with a baby. Figuring out how much to feed him. It turned out we weren't feeding him enough at first and we couldn't figure out why he was crying. All the baby books, friends and doctors were all wrong in how much to feed him, we just figured it out. The sleeping, or lack there of sleep plays a huge factor as well. (ie more stress).

I'm not even going to mention the sudden "communication" issue with the spouse that seemed to come out of no where (ie even more stress).

In any case, here I am 1 year later and can say that over the past 3 months things have started to get really fun. Don't get me wrong, the first 9 were cool (minus the stress - LOL!). Watching him change on a daily basis is fascinating.

Each day is a new adventure for him and you're there to help him figure stuff out, even if it's something as simple as opening a box or a cd player. Watching his eyes light up and smile when he figures something out is pretty awesome and happens all the time.

He's first words (bird, dadda, momma, bus (for "Buster") and ball - btw, anything round is "ball". An onion = "baaalllll", an apple = "baaalll", etc.

He sees and hears a plane fly over and he looks up to the sky with wide eyes and points - that's pretty cool.

When he gets excited about something his whole body tightens up and shakes and he lets an "eeewwww!" - it's a trip.

A few weeks ago he started taking his first steps, now he's taking 6-10 steps between pieces of furniture to get around the house (he's quick, so you can't take your eyes off of him for a second or he' playing in Buster dog bowls).

He seems to dig (and figure out) mechanical stuff pretty quickly. Locks, switches, doors, anything that latches or slides. I have a feeling that a lot of stuff is going to get broken in the near future - LOL!

He also seems to understand a lot of what you're saying even after only hearing it one time. If you say what an object is once and then ask him where that object is hours later, he'll turn and point to it. That's pretty neat as well.

Anyway, we're having a b-day party on Sat and plan on enjoying an RA Estupendo from the cab I picked up with an "OCT 07" date code as well as an 80s Part 898 that AllanB was generous enough to gift me this week (thanks again Allan!).

Thanks for letting me share a little bit of what has started out to be the coolest milestone of my life.

~Mark

ps - notice the DWSC shirt that Bob & Dale sent!

[clampdown]

Mark congrats, thank God he doesnt look like you. I kid, I kid. Children can be a handful but he looks happy and thats what counts, cheers to you and your family and congrats.

[gary106334]

Contgrats Mark. Great looking boy. I remember when mine were that age. Wonderful time in their life and yours.

[havana_lover]

that is great Mark, thanks for sharing that with us!!

[Rev2010]

What an adorable little munchkin!



Rev.

[smokepiper]

I'm having my first in February. It should be a trip. I have no idea what to expect. I can hardly take care of myself. Now I'm partially responsible for another life.

I just hope I don't screw her up too bad.

D

[SmokeyJoe]

Hey Mark! What a cute little guy... congratulations on the first year of this remarkable journey.

[skibumdc]

Better hide and lock up those humi's of yours.
He's gonna find a way to open up those coolers and shrink wrap EASILY!!

[upah]

First of all, congrats on the little one. Second, his polo is awesome! Is that actually a dogwatch social club polo or just a little patch? Either way, good job pre-greasing his slope for him... He doesn't even know it yet but he's a BOTL in the making!

[aich75013]

Mark,

Congrats on the first year.

We have a 6yr old and now a 4 month old.
I will tell you that the second could be nothing like the first.
Our first was really quiet and didn't eat much at all.
This one seems to eat all the time, and had lots of fussiness the first two months.
It's amazing how different each baby can be.

--Adrian.

[Troop_lee]

Thats Awsome Mark!! Congrats on making it through the 1st year!

[JCK]

Congratulations Mark and Happy Birthday to Brandon!

[n2advnture]

Originally Posted by smokepiper

I'm having my first in February. It should be a trip. I have no idea what to expect. I can hardly take care of myself. Now I'm partially responsible for another life.

I just hope I don't screw her up too bad.

D

Shoot me a pm and I'll let you in on all the stuff people and books don't (I mean won't ) tell you.

Originally Posted by upah

...Second, his polo is awesome! Is that actually a dogwatch social club polo or just a little patch? Either way, good job pre-greasing his slope for him... He doesn't even know it yet but he's a BOTL in the making!

Bob & Dale sent it to me months ago but he now fits it. It's embroidered with the DWSC logo, pretty sweet

Thanks for all the kind words as well! (it's hard not to be a little excited, thanks for indulging me)

~Mark

[gnukfu]

Grats Mark!! Kids are awesome! Enjoy every moment, they grow up fast. Seems like it was just yesterday when I was holding my 2 daughters in my arms and now they're 19 and 22....I even had hair back then!

[Genevapics]

That's a fine looking young man, Mark.