Happy Birthday, Monster!

So if I don't get lazy before the end of this post, I'll try to get some b-day pics up. There are 211 pics to sort through, not all b-day, but I'm not sure I'm doing that now. Hopefully before the end of the weekend.

It's been an interesting day. Who knew that the 1st birthday isn't special just because he's made it through a practically arbitrary amount of days, but also personally for me as well. I suppose if I didn't choose to reflect on where I was "a year ago this very hour" throughout the day, it wouldn't have been as thought provoking. I've lost touch with enough of the painful details of that whole process to want to do it again, as opposed to last year, right before this day, where I was questioning if I'd ever have another child again. The physical pain hasn't stuck, besides I know it's the worst pain I've ever felt (...OK and I know the verbal description I came up with right after, but to imagine having the same pain now, I can't quite remember it to the full extent). The amount time I spent in labor hasn't really stuck, though I can tell you the number of nights I spent in contractions, how many times I was sent home from the hospital, and how long it was before I could finally hold my little boy for the first time (about 4 hours...the last one spent hoping he'd be in my arms before all the pending visitors we due to arrive). I almost wanted to drive over to the hospital today just because that place now has a really special meaning to me. Plus I'd love to bump into the lactation consultant who was also my nurse for the whole delivery and a couple of times through my stay (I was there for 4 days, and also was the nurse I had for both the times before they sent me home). I'd love to thank her so much! I don't know if I'm being silly, or hormonal, but I really hope I get to have another baby. I want to do this all over again, knowing better what to expect, and what not to have any expectations of. I feel like there were some really annoying parts I'd like to redo, and I need a second chance to do some things I forgot the first time (have the birth plan, sit in the hot tub, and have some soft music...though I'll not get any of those as I'm looking at an C);  And I'm excited to repeat some things I liked, and meet all of it with at least a little experience. I'd like a do-over, please. Enough about me.

Today started in the usual way: babbling over breakfast. The eve of this day, Stefan started saying, "Dad." with the most clarity I've ever heard. I think I know now why they can do dad first...it's not mechanics ;)... it's just so endearing, how could a dad not want to gobble the baby up because of his cuteness after he heard that? He practiced all morning...afternoon...and evening. "Dad" in cat voice, "Dad" in Stefan monotone, "Dad" in angry voice, "Dad" in listless babble voice....etc. After breakfast, there was a dance party nap, that lasted for 15 minutes and concluded with Stefan standing at the side of his crib squeaking in cat voice.

We decided to head out instead of beating the dead nap horse and checked out the local Christmas stuff. Ultimately, we ended up at Santa's Village, where one can have pictures with Santa, see a toy work shop with Elves (I was kind of disappointed they were full sized adults working inside), visit Rudolph and the rest of the gang, sit in a stationary sleigh, and hang with some elves picnicking outside. We skipped Santa; Stefan has just gotten over going to familiar people without crying for me, it's not fair to subject him to a crazy red, bearded man, notorious for making babies cry. But he loved looking at the trains speed around the toy shop's perimeter (good thing, I hear he'll be inheriting some), and the reindeer. Rudolph was really interested in meeting him as well, but unfortunately they had a double fence up and we couldn't get too close.

We found a whole bunch of cool non-dairy treats at the grocery store and headed home. I made some more meatballs and sauce, and he had a little bit. Then, with excitement, I pulled out the ice cream...he wasn't such a fan. I'm not sure if it was the sweetness or the temperature...he had more fun feeding it to me than himself.I was a little disappointed he didn't share the same fondness for the icy treat I hold so dear!  We found new ways to walk the push toy he got for his birthday, took a rocking bear ride, and had fun playing with the singing frog/ball rolling toy (he can now do most everything on that toy made for an 18 mo!), but he was soon too tired to deal with life, and went to bed. Toss in a bit more playing, crawling, and walking around throughout the day, and there you have it: Stefan's first birthday!