December 16th...

Well that was a fast one.  Hard to believe the little man is already a year old today.  This time last year I had come back home to stay with Riley while Melissa and the new addition got to know one another in the hospital.  It has been quite a year, growing from three to four, Riley adapting to no longer being the sole center of attention, and of course seeing how different (and similar) Jackson has been from how she was and is.

For the most part we've been blessed with two fairly decent sleepers, even if the sleep patterns were not exactly the same.  Whereas Riley was a great sleeper at night and a poor napper, Jackson has been a great napper but still fairly decent sleeper at night as well.  He has and continues to be a very happy guy, and his sense of humor is off the charts.  He laughs at practically anything, and is quick to give a smile.  With Riley, getting either one of those could sometimes require some hard work, but in the end you'd get it from her too...just not as quickly.

He is at the point now where he really enjoys playing with Riley.  He likes to be chased (while crawling) and I do believe he is now copying her "jump up and down" game/song in his bed.  He will hold onto the side just like she does and bounce/jump.  He has also turned into my little wrestling buddy.  As Melissa posted online a while back...her husband and son were wrestling and growling at one another in the floor.  And it is every bit as fun as it may sound.  If he keeps growing though he is going to be bigger than me sometime next year.  :)
His teeth are popping in left and right, as he now has the two top and bottom teeth in the front.  He is taking his time with walking though.  He can do it, and will walk 6 or 7 steps before dropping.  We know he could go further, but he hangs it up after that and crawls.  Maybe it's those chunk legs. 

Though today is his birthday, we had his party last weekend in order to keep it from interfering with anyone's holiday plans.  We had a fairly low-key event, but still a good time with family and a few friends stopping by.  Nana and Granddaddy made it up, as did Greg, Jenny, and Maddie.  We also had Gaylon and Sue and crew, and of course Tonise and Olivia...Riley's best friend in the world...came by as well.  Those two were off to do their own thing as soon as Olivia hit the door, naturally.  When it came time for cake, Jackson was not so sure about it, but I think he still had fun exploring it and he definitely liked it once he did get some of it in his mouth.  One thing he did enjoy were the wonderful boxes in which the gifts came.

Hopefully this next year will slow down a bit.  I already can't imagine them being 4 and 2 next year.  Though some days are challenging, and some days are very challenging, it is a joy like no other to have them both running around, creating pure chaos.  I never thought we could love anyone or anything as much as we love Riley, but this year has proven that we could.  But I definitely can't imagine loving anyone or anything as much as the two of them.  That, without a doubt, is impossible.

Happy Birthday, Little Buddy!

(Is it possible this Clemson thing is unhealthy?  nahhh)