Its Birthday Season!

Mr. B. is now officially one year old. We're a little slow getting up his birthday goods, but better late than never.

At one- the little fella was a hair under 18lbs. So we're making progress in the weight department. Suddenly, and I do mean suddenly, Boden has become somewhat ravenous with the appetite. He's still keenly shunning his vegetables, with the exception of butter-laden carrots... But his pappy is not much for salad either. What boy in their right mind would be any different.

This kid certainly got

spoiled. The party made him think that he's the center of the universe. Momma is trying to instill a good sense of our Scandinavian heritage... Viking hats for all! Viking hats for cake! Viking hats for dogs! Viking hats for cupcakes! Yep, those are chocolate covered frozen bananas. And a frozen cadbury egg for the top (that was my part).

In addition, we had to stick to our western Colorado and Iowa roots, so the kid got outfitted with his first set of cowboy boots and John Deere schwag. Now he's riding a deere... on the back porch. So long as mom or dad are

pushing him.

Pretty good all in all. I think we've endured a relatively smooth first year on the job with this ankle biter without any major failures or catastrophes.

Other important discoveries and items of endearment from the birthday season... Tunnels- both expandable and engineered, sand boxes with age appropriate

toys, tents/forts/things to crawl under, all objects that can fit inside an oral cavity- and preferably items that can be shared with the nearest available adult whose willing to put the sloppy item in their own mouth.

THE SWING!

Aunt Lisa and Uncle Dennis got little Mr. B. a swing way back for Christmas. The problem with swings in the place we live is all the darn snow... But its starting (ever so slowly) to go away. Never mind that we got about six inches earlier this week.

Now we have the thing up (Thanks Coozin Jason!)- its been up for a few weeks and we've maybe been able to use it about half the time. Boden so loves to go out, spend a little time in the swing and go look at trees, that he's learned what his jacket means and will get just a bit giddy at the sight of it. The boy lives by one simple premise when he's in the swing... The higher, the better.

To top it off- Bestafar (Lars) and Barb got this kid a turtle sandbox for the deck. Not quite like a trip to Bora Bora... but Boden really likes it.

So, the boy is starting to fall in love with the back yard. I think he'd spend all day out there if he could. We might let him if we could keep the kid from eating elk poop. However- somehow, "Boden, don't eat the elk poop" gets lost in translation from us to him. But he still spends a whole lot of time out back.

Dancing Man!

This little fella likes the dancing. There are different things that he digs... Beyonce (he likes girls...what can we say), John Denver, Jack Johnson... Boden definitely hits all genres.

Most of the dancing is hard to sustain- I think that's because either: a. The computer won't load the music video fast enough... b. The boy-child gets distracted by other play items on the fireplace... c. Momma thinks he's too young to be dancing to that kind of music. But the rhythm is always just bubbling below the surface.

Mr. B. has also been honing other talents... placing cheese in his onesie, throwing fits, snuggling up with all the stuffed animals. The changes are coming almost daily. In fact- just the other morning we went to get that boy out of bed in the morning and found the kid with his head above the top rail, standing up and waiting to be pulled out.