Life has been a bit crazy for us over the past few weeks, so I've been a slacker on the blog- but I don't want to miss out on a post about Rhys's first year. He turned 1 on April 23rd. I can't believe it. It's been a very eventful year!
Rhys was born on the last day of David's finals for his Masters program at BYU. We spent the summer getting to know each other, while finding renters for our town home and selling off our brand new washer and dryer, my gorgeous living room set, our car, and half of everything else we owned.
At the end of the summer, Rhys said goodbye to Utah, our town home with the garden, trees, and grass that he loved to stick his toes in, the mountains, the empty spaces, his cushy car seat, and to all his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, and friends. And at 4 months old, he became a New Yorker.
He took to it right away. He garnered so much attention on the streets and in the subways and buses that we couldn't go anywhere without being stopped by strangers wanting to make friends with him. He went to his first baseball game at the original Yankee Stadium before its retirement. He nursed in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, had lunch with friends in Central Park, and went shopping in Times Square. He flew in an airplane 5 times and traveled through Penn Station and past the Empire State Building to listen to Elder Holland speak on 34th street. He spent Halloween in Disneyworld and celebrated Christmas and New Year's Eve in Utah. And he charmed the pants off of everyone he came across while doing it!
In the last year, Rhys has also revealed himself to be an amazing little human being. He's developed a hilarious sense of humor. He's sweet, loving, curious, and extremely bright. He's also strong-willed and decisive, and has a sense of daring and adventure that leaves David and I both awed and concerned. He's given strength, joy, and patience to a mom who has struggled to find her bearings in New York City, and in motherhood. He's become best friends with his daddy, and wants to be wherever he is and do whatever he does. Rhys has never failed to have a big smile, a hug, and a kiss ready and waiting for dad as he comes through the door after a long day.
In the weeks surrounding his 1st birthday he has started taking his first steps, gobbled up all the wonderful new foods he's now allowed to try, learned to point to his belly-button and toes (and expects a round of applause every time he does). He's begun to throw ridiculously dramatic tantrums when he doesn't get his way, and sometimes for no apparent reason at all, and after recovering, he loves to act like it never happened. He loves to make silly faces in the mirror, and to climb and "surf" on anything and everything, and hardly ever cries when he inevitably topples off.
His favorite foods are bananas, yogurt, potato chips, and chicken. His favorite movie is Finding Nemo (about 12 times and counting). His favorite games are prank calling as many people as possible before mom and dad can reclaim a working phone, and avoiding getting dressed for bed by crawling away as fast as he can while laughing hysterically. His favorite way to disobey is to fling food off his tray (even imaginary bits once all the real ones are gone just to make sure mom knows he doesn't care how mad she is).
Anyway, I could obviously go on and on- but I'll wrap it up by saying that I am incredibly blessed to be Rhys's mother and to have the pleasure of his company each day. His first year has been a very full one, and on my second Mother's Day I am so proud to say that he has taken all the changes and new experiences in stride, and that every day he reminds me why I think he's the most wonderful little boy I have ever known.
4 comments:
YAY! I can't wait for Rhys to visit and remember how much he loves me. :)
Sounds like an amazing first year! Maisey throws her food off her trays in fits of anger too. Why must they do that??
I cannot believe he is a year old! He is so cute! I just can't get enough of his little face! Happy Birthday Rhys!
What a sweet post. He is such a cute little man. I'm glad you are enjoying his babyhood because it goes so quickly.
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