Well, I am not sure if I decided to post about Coronavirus in your last post. I am pretty sure I didn't want to put it out there and make it a reality, but COVID-19 is a REAL thing. Therefore, life as we know it is completely different in so many ways. Let me start out by saying, we did not go to Florida for Spring Break and since March 16th we have been on a stay at home order through May 30th. What that means for you is that we have been able to watch you grow every moment during these amazing milestones in your life. 11 months has been nothing less than amazing. Being able to spend this time with you is priceless. You have taken your first steps, you are babbling your own songs, you are tracking and remembering words, people, faces, routines. You are holding your own pouches of food ( you are the best eater) and you are no longer on formula. We have made the switch to milk...and I don't want to write this too loudly, knock on wood, but for the last two nights you have slept through the night. Yep, you are a big boy and I mean that in so many ways.
Oh AJ, it is truly indescribable how amazing you are. Dan and I have said it on multiple occasions that you are the kind of baby where we wish we had 2 or 3 of you. You personality is so fun, so full of life, easy-going, loving, compassionate, intelligent, you are truly a gift. I haven't even discussed just how cute you are. You light hair, blue eyes, chunky thighs... and the expressions you make light up every room. You my dear, have continued to ninja with your arms and we even caught you making a cobra move with your arm while sleeping. They say some kids are just born with "IT" and now I know what they mean; whether you will be a Rockstar/heart throb, a Professional Athlete or CEO we already know you are destined for greatness, and until then we will continue to enjoy the ride and cherish every moment. You are already GREATNESS in my book.
This time at home has allowed us family walks, swinging on your swing, spending time with your sisters, just being together to make us all even more crazy LOL. You have increased in strength, exceeded every milestone, and are as curious as you can be. I am starting to think, that like your sister, Danica, you might have no fear! I will say that for as independent as you are, you are very in love with Mom and DADA. You remind me of a tiger pacing at the zoo when you are in your crib; very strong and agile but confined and in this case you don't mind as long as we are laughing with you. Your vocab still remains Mom ma and Da da, but you fluctuate your babble when we ask you to say words- changing the octave so you are definitely understanding what we are saying which is so awesome to be a part of.
Music is something you love and you love when we sing. ABC's and Rock A BYE baby are still your top choices. You rock and sway back and forth and know the part when we are going to dip you down and your face gets so excited. Then when we stop singing you continue to carry on the tune. So impressive and so cute. You love to give hugs by nudging in and laying your head on our shoulders and giggling. Then you lift your head off and do it again. You love getting you face squished with kisses and tight hugs from us. When we lay you on our bed you love smashing your head back into the pillow and stretching yourself out. You make it look like you are laying on clouds.
And to think of it your really like smashing your head back in to everything and laying upside down. I think we need to invest in a helmet!
You love Grandma and fluctuate your voice and it really does sounds like Gram ma. When we facetime her, both of your faces light up at the same time, and then you ninja and raise your finger up to the sky like you are telling her what to do and then you start to laugh.
With the change to milk you have been going poopy A LOT! Watching you push it out can be quite heart wrenching when your face turns bright red, but your nickname isn't poopybutt for nothing!
From crawling, to driving your ferrari, to walking around and climbing on everything this has been quite a month. It has been pure joy and I am so thankful for this time with you. We will never get this chance again and I am so thankful you are here with us so that we can spend every moment with you and watch you continue to grow right before our eyes.
Covid-19 has tested man-kind and new heros have emerged. We find out just how resilient we are as people and just how much our families mean to us. Your sisters are driving us nuts and you help to even that all out. You continue to make everything better. You are loved so very much by all of us. Danica really can't get enough of you and although the world is supposed to be six feet apart from one another, she thinks she should be in your face, squeezing you whenever she can, and reading you stories she makes up about coronavirus- so I can reassure you that no matter what, you will always be loved and annoyed!
With that said, you first birthday is around the corner and I really cannot believe a year has gone by. I can remember almost every moment like it was yesterday of the day I had you. I can remember that feeling of pure relief and overall exhilaration. Now, all of a sudden you are one, and we have come so far from you were screaming in the middle of the night in the hospital (and it was the first time I had ever been alone with any baby without Daddy) but I did it, you are thriving and amazing. We did it AJ. I prayed so hard for you and you arrived. You are everything and more than I could have ever dreamed of. Our bond will never be broken and I will make sure that you know that every day of your life and forever.
WE cannot want to celebrate your Quarantined First birthday, until then, LOVE YOU my sweet sweet baby boy.
