Due to the sicknesses we cancelled his first birthday party, which was super sad for me. Next year we will do something for his second birthday to try and make up for it. However, the Grandparents all braved the disease filled house and came down regardless and we had a mini party! It was funny to see how Calvin wouldn't really make a mess with his real, sugar-laden cake. I've taught him clean eating habits pretty well! He did however run around like a maniac on a sugar high for about an hour afterwards.
For the good news portion of today's report however: we have a walking baby. Calvin was so excited about the toys, and Grandparents and his cousin Matthew that he just stood up and started walking on Christmas day, exactly one day after his first birthday. It was so exciting and a lot of fun that we had a 'first' at the Grandparents! I just love to see his little legs popping up and down as he stomps about.
He's got some new teeth coming in as well. I knew about the two bottom teeth coming in beside the two that are already there, but now there is a molar that's been trying to push its way up for a couple week from the bottom. Sadly for Calvin it looks like the matching molar up top is now trying to push through as well. Just on one side, so we get to do all the waking up in the middle of the night screaming all over again for when the other side repeats the process. I'm just not sure how to comfort that kind of pain, and it breaks my heart, so we are back to nursing in the middle of the night again.
I don't know when it all started, but he has been doing imaginary play for a while. Talking on the phone and pretending to eat things from containers that are empty. I understand that imaginary play leads to reading comprehension, and he is a bit early to exhibit this style of play. It makes a Momma happy to see something happening slightly before the average. I puff up my chest proudly and show people 'look! He's pretending!'.
I can't remember if I've posted about his sign language. He signs 'more' to indicate he is hungry. He signs this all the time. He is never not hungry. He will sign it while he is being put to bed. Seriously? No, no more food baby! I'm trying to switch it to 'hungry' sign and 'more' for actually meaning he wants more of something. He has almost figured out 'again' for when we sing songs and read books. He'll hold his hands up for being lifted up (pretty common in all babies) and wave goodbye. He has on occasion said 'bye' but doesn't seem to be keen to repeat it yet. Calvin talks a LOT, but not using any real words. I have been assured that once he understands the words he will be a non-stop talker. I guess he really is my son! Other signs are 'all done' and he's trying to learn 'change diaper'. I've been working hard on 'water' but so far he's not showing interest in signing that. He almost knows 'sleep' but really - we don't need a sign for that. He falls on his face and lays on the floor like a slug, and that's a pretty big 'sign' right there that it is bedtime. When he really wants something he points and grunts with a noise that sounds like a gorilla. I understand now how cavemen communicated. It is surprisingly efficient.