DJ Learns to "Whistle"

DJ Learns to Whistle...kind of

DJ's 1st Birthday!

We've been so blessed to have baby DJ for a year now! The year totally flew by! So far...here's a little info on his first year
1) He went from being a super-quiet tiny little boy who just stared at everyone to having to be taken out of church because he won't stop talking and laughs hysterically when you're trying to put him to bed!

2) He didn't attempt to crawl until almost 9 months...he went in circles and backwards for a few weeks. Then one day (in Seattle) we got him out of the car after a 5 hr drive, checked into our hotel and we set him down in the room and he just started crawling forward like he'd been doing it his whole little life!

3) He did NOT like crawling, however. He did that for less than two weeks and thought, "okay, the knees are not feeling to good" so he gave walking a try. First he would just pull himself up just enough to bend the window blinds or get his hands stuck in the VCR (yes, we still own a VCR). Then he would just keep letting go of our hands and falling down. It took him a few weeks to master walking because he was trying to master RUNNING!!! He would take off full speed and crash after two steps...until he figured out "OKAY, if I go SLOWER, I stay up LONGER" Needless to say, now he's a pro!

4) In his 1st year, he's been to the ZOO 3 times and still hasn't actually seen the ZOO! Every time we've gone....he fell asleep once we entered the gate and didn't wake up until we were back in the parking lot! : )

5) DJ had a chance to visit his family on the east coast only once, but hopes to get there more this next year because once is definitely NOT enough. (He also needs to visit his family in AZ!)

6) DJ loves loves loves everything OUTDOORS! If he gets fussy, we sit with him on the porch or take him for a walk. Lately, to put him to bed we get a warm blanket and go to sleep in the hammock in the backyard. He went camping a few times this summer and pooped mommy out because he wouldn't sleep...he was wired up from the nice campfires, big trees, cool breeze, playing in the dirt, sleeping in the camper and listening to the coyotes howl! DJ also went on the most beautiful bike ride with his mom, dad and cousin Tequis on the Idaho / Montana border. He rode over trestles and through 10 caves...oh yeah...he slept through that too!!! He went Kayaking on Spirit Lake (fell asleep), Swimming (ALWAYS falls asleep in his floatie chair after about an hour of swimming) Canoeing (FYI--bad experience. We'll just say we all came back drenched and dirty from this "relaxing" ride)

7) DJ loves animals...bugs, cats, dogs, horsies, whatever...if it moves, he wants to play with it. Barking dogs don't scare him, he just wants to pet them all! (hmmm...he would have LOVED the ZOO!; )

8)DJ has a best buddy at school named Halle. They wait for each other, they play follow the leader with each other, they scream at each other and laugh, they stand at each other's playpens while the other naps and waits for them to wake up so they can play. Halle learned to say "DJ" and she points at DJ and cries when she sees us because she knows we're taking her best friend bye bye for the day.

9) DJ knows how to say "dada" (EVERYTHING is dada) He says "No" by shaking his head. When we say "No no" to him, he thinks it's funny and challenges us every single time. ; ) He can wave "bye bye" and he can blow kisses (although instead of putting his hand on his mouth, he puts it on his cheek or forehead and then makes the kissing sound...yeah, we have to work on that.)

10) He is such a joy to be around! (unless he's hungry or tired...then...not so joyful) We love his laugh and his smile. Mornings are priceless, he smiles before he even opens his eyes...then he crawls over to his dad...slaps him on the face (to which Travis NEVER wakes up) so DJ will just lay his head on his daddy's head and just hold him, while one hand is on mom's face. Most of the time, he falls asleep best if he's draped across both mom and dad. (typically with his head and back resting on dad and legs draped over mom's head...yeah, not too comfortable, but it works!)
We love him.

SO now,
DJ's likes

Running around in just his diaper
Drinking water out of cup
Throwing things and watching us pick it up
Crawling up stairs
Handy Manny Cartoon
Pushing Things across the floor (chairs, DVD cases, boxes, anything)
Going for a LONG jog outside (mom and dad jog, he lounges in his stroller sippin' on water)
Cardboard boxes
Dogs
Favorite thing to eat - Cottage Cheese, Turkey
Favorite thing to wear - NOTHING

DJ's Dislikes

Covering up when he sleeps (kicks off blankets ALL night)
Wearing clothes
Being HOT (hates hot weather, gets grumpy)
Peas (still, they make him gag)
Thick socks
People in his personal space
LOUD places, people, things
Getting in and out of carseat repeatedly

DJ & Mommy on a jog...just giving you a snapshot of what it looks like where we live...

DJ turned 8 months old in May...
Here's his message for you...