jack turns 1

i can't believe how fast time really does go. i know it sounds lame, but it really feels like yesterday we brought him home. it didn't feel real bringing him home, but now it seems he has always been here. i can't even describe the joy we feel. i still say a prayer of thanks for him, his wonderful personality and spirit he adds to our home. i feel so lucky and privileged to be his mom.
we had a little icecream party for him. we had a small gathering (dad & mom, lindsey, tyler & lucy, ransom, katie, conrad & phoebe (and baby in stomach), kelsie, abby and grandpa & grandma birrell). he got a few presents (yes noisy ones, but they really don't bother me) and he played while i got the icecream ready. we sat him in his chair and before i knew it, he grabbed his bowl to get to the candle (he is so strong!). we sang a quick "happy birthday", blew out the candle and he dove right in. icecream was everywhere...it was perfect.
-he says "hot" while he stands about 3 feet away from the wood burning stove
-he is walking everywhere. the best is when he holds his hand out for you, as you think he wants to come to you, but no...he wants to take you somewhere
-he loves to unload his toys out of the bucket and isn't satisfied until each of them are on the floor
-loves to bite and thinks it's a game when we tell him no
-his favorite place to sit is right by paul (adorable)
-could play in the sink for hours
-learning to drink and feed himself, which is very, very, very messy
-laughs like crazy
-sleeps through the night
-loves chocolate milk, carrots, potatoes, pasta, pizza, oreos, tomatoes, peaches, apples
-talks to me while we drive around
-has to touch everything like his dad
-is a good fit thrower (which we try to ignore, but find ourselves laughing at his actions)
-ash