Fischer's First Birthday!!!

When Fischer spent the better part of Memorial Day weekend with Joe, we had to take his carseat out of my vehicle and put it in Joe's car. This was the beginning of Facing Forward! It's a whole new take on car travel for Fischer, and he seems no more or less excited than he was to face backward...but we like it! It no longer requires adjusting a pair of mirrors to see him...or a go-go-gadget arm to hand him something. For Fischer's party on Sunday, May 31st, we had a very nice turn-out. Although it was a little on the cool side and a tad breezy, we were able to enjoy our company and food in the back yard. It was a good mix of family and friends and even daycare friends who came to celebrate with us.
I wasn't sure how things would turn out, being that the party was from 10am to 2pm...He ended up taking a nap before the party--good thing, because he sure was a crabby patty from the moment he woke up for the day! By the time our first guests had arrived (the Enz's, of course!), Fischer was refreshed, if a little serious. He had carpet imprints on his face, as his nap was taken on the livingroom floor :)

Above are Kristy and Flora Enz watching as Fischer and I unwrapped his first present of the day.

Just shy of 5 months old, little Leo Enz poses with Mom Kristy and their exchange student, Saleema.

It seems as though Fischer has been more apt to choose objects to hang onto for lengths of time as a 'side-effect' of ending our nursing relationship. Some kids have blankies or teddy bears...Fischer's object of choice during his party was a little plastic cow. Above he's blowing kisses with his cow firmly in his grasp.

Kayla Schroeder, one of our daycare friends, helped Fischer figure out how to use the present her family brought.

Above are Matt, Kayla (age 4), Stacy and Logan (age 2 1/2) Schroeder, and Flora (age 2) and Tom Enz.

Fischer loved the little lawn chair that the crazy neighbors got him. Taylor Casperson (age 12) looks on to be sure he doesn't tip.

2nd cousin Kaylee (age 1 1/2) came to play for a little while. Her "hottie" aunt, Katie, graduated from high school June 7th.

Above, you see the favorite gumball toy Fischer clamped onto after he was done with his cow.

After the candle was lit and "Happy Birthday" was sung by all, it was time for CAKE! Fischer's first taste came from the little bit he got to lick from the bottom of his candle. "Mmm, Mmm, Mmm" was all he said until he got his own piece in front of him to enjoy. Yep, the boy loves cake :). There's a video on the Fisch Finder of him eating his cake.

After everyone ate, the party began to wind down. When it was pretty much just us and the crazy neighbors again, AND when his sugar buzz was wearing off, Fischer went down for his second nap. It couldn't have worked out better for our boy! Thanks, everyone, for coming to celebrate with us, bringing yummy eats, and fun presents. It was an awesome first birthday!

On Fischer's actual birthday, Weds. June 3rd, he woke up with a little cold--I wonder if it wasn't a little allergy attack or this wishy-washy weather?! We brought cupcakes to daycare and he was sung to again there. This time he could see the candle better and the wind didn't blow it out on him (Mom did). There's a Fisch Finder video of this, too.

It was a big week for Fischer, too, because he began visiting the 1-year-old room at daycare. We will miss his baby teachers, but know that it's time he 'graduated' to the next room. Fischer is now officially on a one-nap schedule. The trick is staying awake to eat lunch! Sometimes he's just too tired to eat a good lunch. However, he does seem to nap pretty well on his cot--in fact, when he goes down about 11:30 or so, his teachers often have to coax him awake at "lights on" at 2:30! Atta boy!

Being a mom to a 1-year-old doesn't seem to feel too different...I am still waiting for my body to adjust to not nursing. It's getting better every day, though. Fischer, on the other hand, has his random security objects (cow, Little People bus driver, rattling gumball ball, etc.) that he clamps onto, and he has become incredibly whiney compared to what he's ever been before. I don't know if I'm looking for differences with the end of nursing, or if Fischer would've exhibited these behaviors regardless of this change...Maybe it's just that he's growing and changing so much you could almost watch it happen, and that much growth and development has to be uncomfortable physically! In any case, I'm sure to give him lots and lots of extra hugs and reassurance, and we play every night after supper until it's time for bath and bedtime.

This past Friday at Fischer's one year checkup, Dr. Hoyer was just melted by his throaty "hi". Fischer is 30 1/2 inches long (75th percentile), has a head circumference of 47 cm (75th percentile) and is 20 lbs. 8 oz. (10-25th percentile). So he's a bit on the light side, but to look at him, he looks just proportionately perfect. Joe said he and his brothers were all light-weights growing up.

Fischer got 2 shots--OUCH--and a hand x-ray. Joe and I have been keeping an eye on his right pinky finger basically since birth. It curves toward his ring finger, and he tends to keep it bent when he reaches for and holds things. It doesn't hurt him to straighten it, and he can straighten it, but we wondered if there was anything to be concerned about. Dr. Hoyer said some long name for "the curving/curling of the 5th digit", and said that since the x-rays didn't show any bone or other abnormalities, that it was just a cosmetic issue. So, I think we'll continue to make sure his pinky doesn't hinder him in any way, and will otherwise chalk it up to one more way he's our unique little man.